A TRAFFIC "danger zone" is getting 20 speed bumps in a bid to slow traffic.

The £75,000 project in the Heasandford area of Burnley, which will see a new 20 mph limit, is the largest scheme of its type in the town.

Residents had said that the streets were "an accident waiting to happen" because of the speed vehicles are able to travel.

In addition to the speed bumps new road signs will be put in place warning that the speed limit has been cut from 30mph to 20mph.

Work will take place in an area bounded by Eastern Avenue, Basnett Street, Salus Street, Briercliffe Road, Pheasantford Street, Cleaver Street and Browhead Road.

The area was chosen after complaints from residents about the high number of pedestrian accidents.

Figures from Lancashire County Council revealed that it has one of the highest accident rates in the borough.

In the last five years there have been 38 reported pedestrian casualty accidents, 19 of which the county council say could have been prevented by implementing the scheme.

Consultation with residents about the measures began in 2006 and leaflets about the re-design of the roads were sent to residents in the streets affected.

Speed "cushions" will be placed on bus routes and speed bumps will be placed on residential streets to try to slow down the speed of traffic.

It is hoped that the work will be completed within six weeks before the school summer holidays begin.

And Lancashire County Council which oversees the work says that there are no expected road closures and that it is hoping that there will be minimal disruption to road users.

Duncan Reeve, engineer and manager of the scheme, said: "The aim of the work is to slow traffic down and to keep the roads safer for pedestrians.

"The area was chosen because of the high pedestrian injury rate and the close proximity to Heasandford Primary School "The consultation process began back in 2006 and since then we have done a lot of work to try to ensure there is no major design conflict and minimum disruption.

"Speed cushions which have a slight raised profile are being placed on the bus route as the bus can straddle the cushions and so there will be minimum disruption to passengers.

"And speed bumps which have round top humps are being placed on residential streets in the area. The whole area is being made 20mph."

Coun Gary Frayling, (Labour) said:"We have been fighting for the traffic calming measures for the past few years and it's fantastic to see the work actually start.

"The problem is that drivers bomb along the road near to the school and residents have complained for a number of years about the high accident rate.

"Hopefully the work should make a huge difference and help save lives."

Coun Bill Bennett, (Lib Dem) added: "Anything that can help reduce speed of the traffic and the number of accidents has to be a positive thing.

"There has been a lot of accidents in the area during the last few years and something needed to be done to combat the problem."