PUPILS at a Hyndburn high school are learning to become town planners to try to make Lancashire's roads safer.

With the help of Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group, year seven and eight children from Rhyddings High School, in Oswaldtwistle, have been designing their own road systems, with the safety the top priority.

The students looked at the council's annual publication 'Roadlife' and the Department for Transport's 'Making Choices' magazine to discuss how to cross roads safely and where to place traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

Their teacher Alison Wilson said: "There has been a fantastic response from the students who enjoyed reading Roadlife and Making Choices.

"By developing these resources into interactive activities it has really got the students thinking about how they can get road safety messages across and integrate traffic calming.

"The students also designed road safety posters that were used at an open evening at school, raising awareness of road safety to the entire school community."

In 2003 there were six fatalities, 88 serious and 467 slight injuries in the 11-16 age group across Lancashire and this is one of the reasons why Road Safety Group adviser Carole Rutter believes it is important to include road safety in the curriculum for all school children.

She said: "We are working to reduce road casualties, particularly with vulnerable road user groups such as this.

"By making road safety enjoyable and interesting young people can learn vital lessons.

"With the help and support of teachers across the county, we can make an impact on road safety education"For more information on the work of the Road Safety Group visit www.lancashirero adsafety.co.uk or call 0800 328 1635.