A FIVE year campaign to make a street safer for children has finally paid off.

A new zebra crossing is among the traffic-calming measures introduced in Victoria Street, Blackburn.

The road is used by hundreds of children every day as they walk to and from St John's Primary School.

A campaign was launched by the school's lollipop lady, Kathleen Reeves, in 1997, just two weeks after she had taken up the post ushering children across the school.

She has since left the school, but her partner in the campaign, Shear Brow councillor Hussain Akhtar, has carried on fighting for the improvements.

Now, Blackburn with Darwen Council has installed speed cushions, priority gateways and a new zebra crossing in a bid to make Victoria Street, Blackburn, safer.

They drew up their plans after a road safety audit revealed that between January 1996 and December 2000, 35 people were taken to hospital as a result of accidents in Victoria Street.

Of those 35, one died in 1996 and 12 were injured. Six of them children needing hospital treatment.

Coun Akhtar said: "I am sure I speak for everyone in the community when I say how grateful we are that we have finally got these measures. The crossing is a particularly good thing because so many children use this road every day, they need somewhere safe to cross."

Speaking when she launched the campaign with Coun Akhtar, Kathleen Reeves said: "It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. Barriers and signs do not cost that much and it could save a life or a few lives.

"I am very concerned for the children's safety. This is a very dangerous spot. Cars speed along it and often don't see children crossing until the last minute." About 300 primary schoolchildren cross the road there every day.

Highways officer Peter van Eijsden said: "An accident reduction scheme has been introduced in conjunction with resurfacing works on the street. To assist pedestrians and especially children travelling to and from school, a raised zebra crossing has been sintalled in Victoria Street, between Swallow Drive and Randal Street.

"To assist the school crossing patrol, a priority gateway is proposed. The carriageway will be narrowed to a single running lane, forcing traffic travelling north up Victoria Street to give way.

"To reduce speed further, five sets of speed cushions are proposed."