CAMPAIGNERS for 20mph speed zones have accused the region's traffic chiefs of putting money before lives, following a string of near-fatal accidents involving youngsters.

The outburst comes just a fortnight after four-year-old Jessica Dryden from Ryefield Avenue, Penwortham, was knocked down while playing outside.

Now, campaigners for 20mph limits are to take their crusade on to the streets of Penwortham and Farington in a bid to gather people's signatures.

An estimated 1,000-strong petition is expected to be handed to Lancashire County Council chiefs pleading for increased measures to stop the amount of deaths and injuries on the roads.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) nine out of ten children who are hit by a car travelling at 35mph die -- compared with only one in ten children in a 20mph zone.

Campaign co-ordinator, councillor Mark Alcock (pictured), says County Hall needs to take heed of ROSPA's figures.

"When Lancashire County Council is approached with proposals for traffic calming measures, the first thing they say is that it has to be cost-effective," he explained. "Surely they are putting money before lives."

He added: "The irony is that it cost Lancashire police southern division £4 million last year to attend road accidents -- that's not counting the public cost of hospital treatment.

"We will be travelling the length and breadth of Farington and Middleforth to gauge people's reactions, and hopefully get something done about tackling the speed of motorists."

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: "The county council takes road safety very seriously and any request for traffic calming measures are taken on merit.

"We look at zones rather than individual roads to assess what is happening in the surrounding area."

At Middleforth Area committee meeting on Monday (September 4), councillors asked Lancashire County Council for 20mph signs to be erected outside all schools in the area.