PARENTS buying their children bicycles for Christmas are being urged to buy them helmets in an attempt to increase safety.

Lancashire County Council's Road Safety group has given the advice after the Government's Think! campaign revealed only one in four parents who have bought their child a bike as a Christmas present have bought them a helmet.

The group said many parents buy bikes that their children will 'grow into'. This means that the child is often unable to control the bike as well as they would on one that fit their size.

County Councillor Nora Ward, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "With almost 5,500 child cyclists killed or injured on UK roads in 2001, cycle safety equipment is vital."

The research also showed that half of parents have never purchased lights, a legal requirement when riding in the dark, and as many as 85 per cent had never bought them fluorescent clothing, essential for being seen clearly by motorists.

The Road Safety Group encourage the use of bright or fluorescent clothing, front and rear lights and reflectors and say bikes should be bought from specialist bicycle shops and helmets should bear one of the approved marks and be fitted correctly.