CHILD car seat checks will take place across York and North Yorkshire as part of a campaign to reduce the number of young deaths on the road.

The message from North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) during Child Safety Week is "accidents happen in seconds, but the results can last a lifetime".

In the United Kingdom, over the next year, about 400 children and young people will be killed in accidents, compared to 60 deaths from family abuse, 20 killings by strangers and 115 deaths from meningitis. One in four of all deaths of ten to 14-year-olds will be the result of a road accident, according to figures from the Child Accident Prevention Trust.

From Monday there will be events taking place across York and North Yorkshire to raise awareness of a number of child safety issues.

The first event will take place on Monday, in Eastgate Car Park, Pickering, between 10am and 3pm.

On Wednesday, the safety team will be outside Safeway supermarket in James Street, Selby, between 11am and 3pm. On Sunday, June 29, the event will transfer to Asda supermarket at Monks Cross, York, between 11am and 3pm.

As well as offering free child car seat checks, PCT health visitors will be on hand to provide information and offer advice on a range of issues around child safety.

Lindsay Ankers, PCT Health Visitor and member of the Selby Accident Prevention Group, said: "It's vital we do all we can to remove preventable causes of injury to young children, we hope that by raising the issues we can help reduce the number of children hurt.

"Child Safety Week is vital in raising awareness, but the Primary Care Trust is committed to continuing its work in the community and further safety initiatives are planned."

North Yorkshire County Councillor Peter Sowray, executive member for road safety, said: "For most children, accidents will mean nothing more than bumps and bruises that are a part of playing, exploring and growing up.

"But for some children, young people and their families road accidents can have tragic consequences. We want as many people as possible to attend the events."

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, June 19, 2003