PEOPLE bereaved or injured by a road accident can now turn to a national charity that has set up a branch in Preston.

RoadPeace has reached hundreds of people across the country since it was set up in 1992.

The group held its first Preston meeting last week and leaders are hoping to reach as many people as possible.

Bosses at the charity say the branch was set up because there is a real need for the work of the charity and the nearest other branch, in Liverpool, was too far for people to travel.

According to figures collated by the county council the number of people killed or seriously injured in Preston in 2002 and 2003 was 276 and in South Ribble the figure for the same period was 161.

Maria Hodgson, who lost her husband Brian when he was killed by a drunk driver in 1992, is leading the group.

She started going to a group in Liverpool about a year ago, but found it a long way to travel.

Mrs Hodgson, said: "People can have as much involvement as they want, they can get involved in the campaigns or just come to the meetings for emotional support."

RoadPeace not only offers support but also campaigns for improved road safety and more severe punishment for motorists found to have broken the law.

"We want to raise awareness that a road crash is not an accident if someone is speeding or has been drinking, they have broken the law, and the sentences are not severe enough," she added.

The group's next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 9, at 7pm, at Preston DISC (Disability Information Services Centre), Church Street.