YOUNG drivers in East Lancashire are some of the most likely in the UK to have accidents, a new report has revealed.

The report, by Road Safety Analysis, was based on Department for Transport figures between 2006 and 2010, which revealed there were 4,635 crashes involving young people in East Lancashire.

Blackburn with Darwen saw the highest figure in the region, with 1,349 over the five-year period.

In Pendle, 790 accidents were reported to have involved 16 to 29-year-olds, and in Hyndburn there were 757.

In Burnley, 711 crashes involving young people were reported, and in Rossendale 584 were recorded.

The figures showed that young drivers in the Ribble Valley had the fewest accidents in East Lancashire, with 444.

The figures put the six East Lancashire boroughs in the top 151 for accidents involving young people in the country, out of 386 regions.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Wasted Lives campaign highlighted the issue of deaths of young people on the roads.

Its work has been carried on by other agencies, including Lancashire County Council.

County Coun Tim Ashton said: “We recognise that young drivers have different perceptions of risk, and less experience than older drivers.

“Our Wasted Lives programme has been very successful in improving young people’s understanding of the potential consequences of taking risks behind the wheel.

“A new education package which is currently being developed will look at all aspects of learning to drive, including the particular risks young drivers face when travelling on rural roads.

“Deaths and injuries on Lancashire’s roads are falling year on year.

“And we continue to improve safety on rural roads by identifying areas where accidents occur, and introducing engineering measures designed to slow traffic and improve drivers’ awareness of hazards.”

The Road Safety Analysis report blamed the number of country roads in the region with high speed limits for the results, and highlighted a pressing need for more training for young, and inexperienced, drivers on rural roads.