A MAN who spends his working week making roads safer for pedestrians, has set up a dummy policeman in his drive to slow passing traffic.

Roger Wright who works as an accessibility adviser for the Highways Agency, has launched his one-man road safety campaign to prevent accidents outside his own home in Blackburn Road, Whittle-le-Woods.

His novel measures to keep pedestrians out of harm's way also include a home-made luminous orange sign that warns drivers: "Danger, walkers in road".

Mr Wright, 53, who has worked for the Highways Agency for more than 20 years, started his lone campaign after noticing an increasing number of motorists ignoring speed limits on the busy stretch.

He said: "Having a knowledge of the problems that occur at a national level, I felt I could not ignore a situation happening literally on my own doorstep."

Mr Wright is worried that the footpath running along the front of his property tapers off before it reaches the junction of the Wheelton bypass (A674).

He said: " It is very dangerous for pedestrians as the path runs out all of a sudden and poor sightlines at this point mean crossing the road is extremely perilous."

The speed limit on Blackburn Road is 40mph although Mr Wright claims many vehicles travel much faster, and he cites government figures, that 80 per cent of pedestrians hit at this speed are killed, as a reason for slowing down.

"I made the sign myself and hope it will make motorists aware that there is the possibility of encountering walkers on that side of the road," he said.

Mr Wright has the support of his neighbours in his campaign, including recently retired GP Dr Robert Hartley who has seen first-hand the results of this dangerous junction.

"I have treated several people injured there in accidents during my time in practice in Chorley," said Dr Hartley. "The junction is very dangerous, especially with traffic turning right into Blackburn Road from the M61 direction."

Mr Wright said he last put out his police dummy when there was an accident at the junction earlier this year and the police were in attendance.

"I just wanted to improve their safety and they actually thanked me before they left," he said.

He has also had discussions with Chorley Borough Council which, he said, had agreed to put up signs.

But a council spokesperson said: "We have examined this problem and measures have been taken which include re-applying the double white lines which mean no overtaking and painting 'slow' signs on the road.

"The provision of road signs is difficult because the path is very narrow and they cannot be placed without the risk of them being struck by vehicles.

"There is a path on the other side of the road and there have been no reported pedestrian accidents there in the last five years."

Inspector Janet Edmondson, of Coppull and Wheelton Police, said: "It's difficult for me to comment as I have not seen the dummy policeman.

"We are aware that there are areas on the road with no footpaths but there have been no recent accidents involving pedestrians in that location."