A PRESTON lad launched a major road safety campaign at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital to keep young car passengers safe.

Six-year-old Reece Dugdale starred in a video, made by Lancashire Police, called 'Teddy Takes a Tumble' which aims to highlight the importance of belting up in the back seats of cars.

The Howick CofE Primary School pupil was chosen by Lancashire Constabulary, based in Hutton, because he matched the description of blond Billy in the story.

The initiative is being spearheaded by a colourful story book, of the same name, written by college students which inspired Lancashire Constabulary to make the video.

The booklet impressed the North West group of the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association who will be distributing it to schools and nurseries across Lancashire.

'Teddy Takes a Tumble' -- tells the story of Billy who didn't strap his teddy bear in and when his mother is forced to break sharply the cuddly bear goes flying through the air and smashes into the windscreen.

Billy realises the error of his ways and hugging his teddy tells him 'I'll always put your seat belt on from now on'.

Road safety officer Julie Windeler, who organised the launch, said: "One in ten children under 13 are still unrestrained in the back seat of cars despite the fact that research shows it takes less than a fifth of a second for an unrestrained child to fly through the windscreen and die in a crash."

The booklet urges parents to ensure child car seats are fitted properly every time, to take time to get the child comfortably strapped in and to ensure a child is secured tightly when placed in an adult seat.

An unrestrained child can be killed by being thrown forward, head first, at speeds as low as 5mph.

Professor Chris Brooks, who has carried out extensive research into the causes of injuries to car passengers involved in a crash, said: "Some people are not wearing seat belts because they have an airbag in the car, but the airbag is supplementary. People have got to wear a seat belt in addition.

"Those who do not can suffer serious facial injuries and injuries to the eyes."

Lancashire Police will enforce the campaign by stepping up patrols.