MOTORISTS and pedestrians are being urged to take extra care on the roads to ensure everyone has a happy Christmas.

Hartlepool Borough Council's road safety unit and health chiefs have joined forces to issue a safety reminder with the onset of longer nights.

Paul Watson, the council's road safety officer said: "Road accident casualties are always over-represented in statistics during November and December.

"By putting into practice good road safety behaviour in the run-up to Christmas it is hoped that fewer accidents will occur and everyone will have a festive season to remember, not one to forget."

His comments were echoed by Andrew Simpson, accident and emergency consultant at Hartlepool General Hospital.

He said: "Hospital statistics show that we are approaching the busiest period of the year with a high proportion of people being admitted to the A&E unit after being involved in road crashes.

"It is vitally important that as road users we all take extra care in an effort to reduce the chances of becoming an unwanted statistic."