EGERTON butcher Paul Fairclough almost ended up on a slab himself when a car ran into his horse as he rode through Bromley Cross.

As the car glanced off the horse's hind leg, it hit his heel with such force that his boot smashed through the windscreen, showering the driver with glass.

The horse was lame for weeks and, although Paul escaped without serious injury, memories of the accident a couple of years ago still give him "the shudders".

On Saturday, he will be among many local riders backing the National Horse and Road Safety Day, which will see special events being held throughout the country.

The aim is to hammer home the twin messages that horses need to be given room on the highways and riders need more bridleways to be opened up.

Janet Grant, of Round Barn, Edgworth, will be leading a mass horse ride on Saturday morning from the village's Barlow Institute through the lanes and tracks of Turton.

Around 50 riders are expected to take part.

Janet, who helps to run the local Bridleways Group, has been campaigning long and hard for more bridleways in the Bolton area to link up with a new horse route that follows the backbone of England.

Plans are already in hand for a linear route from Baxenden to Rivington, passing fairly near the northern boundary of Turton.

But Janet and many of her riding friends want more.

She said: "Do you realise that there is only one proper bridleway round here, from Crowthorn School to Holcombe Village, and that is in such a bad state of repair in the middle section that it is dangerous?

"What we need is a proper network of bridleways so that riders can get away from the danger on the roads.

"Every rider you speak to tells you of near misses.

"Ninety-nine per cent of drivers are very considerate but there are some who will not slow down when they pass a horse."

Things could soon get better for riders.

Ian Hart, a countryside officer in the West Pennines, said: "The Countryside Service is looking to create a usable network of bridleways throughout the area."

At present,the lack of suitable off-road routes spells danger for riders.

Janet said: "Recently, I was with a group of five riders and we were going round a very sharp bend in Blackburn Road, Edgworth, when a car whizzed past so close that it hit my riding whip."

But she emphasised that the campaign was not a driver-knocking exercise.

She said: "As well as highlighting our safety concerns to motorists, the campaign is very much about urging horseriders to behave correctly on the road too.

"The aim is to get a better understanding between riders and drivers."

In recent years, there have beena number of serious accidents in the Bolton area and, in a couple of cases, the car drivers have been injured.

The British Horse Society says there are eight horse-related accidents every day in the UK and around five riders are killed on the roads each year.

Anyone wanting to join Saturday's ride can contact Janet Grant on 01204 853222