The number of people seriously injured on Bradford's roads has fallen to the lowest level since records began, it was revealed today.

Latest figures show 265 people were killed or seriously injured on the district's roads last year, the lowest figure since they started being compiled in 1974.

And the number of child casualties dropped sharply, with just 39 youngsters killed or seriously injured, compared with 76 in 2003.

But the number of deaths rose from 15 to 20, including five involving youngsters aged under 16.

Road safety experts today said speed cameras, publicity campaigns and improved driver and pedestrian behaviour could have all helped.

And campaigner Maureen King, who witnessed a crash that killed three teenagers outside her home five years ago, said: "I believe speed cameras play a big part in reducing accidents.

"People might think they are a nuisance if they get nabbed doing only a little more than 30 mph but they are there for a reason - to save lives."

The district's road injury figures for last year, released by Bradford Council, reveal that overall casualties have reached their lowest level since 1995. The figure dropped from 3,203 in 2003 to 2,980 last year.

Today Steve Thornton, the officer responsible for reducing road injuries in Bradford, said he was delighted with the latest statistics.

He said: "This is terrific news but we can't stop the work now.

"We are trying to make people's road safety skills better and we are trying to influence behaviour.

"But it's about working together with local people which makes the difference."

He said safety advice given at neighbourhood forums and hard-hitting messages through advertising were making parents take road safety seriously and advice was being relayed to children.

Safer Roads Day, which aims to make sure no-one is hurt on the district's roads on May 1, had raised awareness of road safety issues, he added.

And he stressed the importance of the expanding number of speed cameras across the district.

"The most significant change over the last two years has been the work and support through the camera partnership but it can't all be put down solely to that," he said.

"There has been considerable work done by various agencies over the past 15 years and we cannot underestimate the work of local people who are raising awareness of road safety issues by taking advice on board."

The number of cyclists injured rose slightly last year from 92 to 95 and the number of motorcyclists hurt rose from 144 to 150.

But despite these increases, most of the figures show an improvement on the district's roads:

l The total number of accidents fell from 2,107 to 2,001, the lowest number since 1993;

l Pedestrian injuries fell for the eighth year running from 422 in 2003 to 393 and are the lowest on record;

l 359 children were injured last year compared to 449 in 2003, again the lowest on record.

Philip Gwynne, spokesman for the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, which manages speed cameras across the district, said: "It's enormously satisfying to see the figures come down but this improvement must continue between us, the professionals, and the public.

"It's a constant job of engaging with people, telling them what their responsibilities are to make sure they have all the information so they can make informed decisions about their behaviour on the roads."

News of the impact of speed cameras was welcomed by pensioner Maureen King.

The 73-year-old campaigned for speed cameras on Spen Lane, Cleckheaton, after three teenagers were killed outside her home five years ago.

There were three more deaths on the road before three cameras were installed in 2002 and Mrs King said: "There haven't been any deaths since the cameras went up so they do make a huge difference.

"It took me a long time to get over the horrific sight I saw that day and I vowed to do something to try and stop it from happening again."

The district's casualty reduction work is co-ordinated under the Bradford Vision Road Safety Task Group.

The latest figures and the work of the task group will be discussed at a meeting of the Council's safer and stronger communities improvement committee tomorrow.