A MAJOR road safety campaign has been hailed a success after a big fall in accidents.

The Dyke House School Casualty Reduction Initiative was launched in September last year in the light of statistics revealing the area to be the worst in the town for accidents involving under-16s.

The most recent figures show that only eight youngsters were injured in the campaign area last year compared to 15 in 1999 and 14 in 1998.

Paul Watson, Hartlepool Borough Council's road safety officer, said: "Although the casualty reduction initiative was operating for less than half of last year, I'm convinced it played a major role in helping to reduce the number of accidents involving young people compared to previous years."

The council, police and health officials are all working closely with staff and pupils at Dyke House School to promote pedestrian safety.

Consultations are about to begin on proposals for a range of traffic calming and engineering works to slow down vehicles, including junction improvements, safer crossing areas and better signs and lines.

A further boost is being provided by the national cycling charity Sustrans, which has contributed £5,000 towards the cost of providing secure bicycle stores at the school.