A new road safety campaign was launched this week, encouraging motorists and cyclists to become more 'Bike Smart'.

The campaign, which is part of Road Safety Week 2018, is championed by road safety charity, Brake.

And on Monday, Blackburn with Darwen Councillors and officers from Lancashire's Road Police, along with staff from the charity, gave free winter bike checks outside Blackburn Town Hall.

This year, Road Safety Week is calling for drivers to be 'Bike Smart' and look out for the safety of those on two wheels.

Councillor Shaukat Hussain, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Prevention Services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I hope both cyclists and drivers will take a look at the messages given in this year’s Road Safety Week.

"The Bike Smart message is an important one and with a few simple steps, everyone on the roads can work together to keep each other safe."

More than one third of people killed on UK roads are on bikes and a new analysis by Brake, shows that those on two wheels face 63 times higher risk of being killed or seriously injured, per mile travelled, than car drivers.

Road Safety Week 2018 is asking people to follow a few simple steps to make roads safer for people on bicycles and motorbikes.

These include taking time to look properly before pulling out at junctions and leaving plenty of room when overtaking or passing bikes.

Motorists are also encouraged to slow down on rural roads and in residential areas and are asked to avoid driving or parking in cycle lanes.

As part of the initiative, Blackburn with Darwen council want everyone who travels to work on a bike during Road Safety Week, to stop and take a safe selfie to be in with a chance to win some cycling goodies including a free hi-vis neck warmer.

Selfies should be sent to community.safety@blackburn.gov.uk.

For more information on how to be ‘Bike Smart’ visit www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk