A special event to promote road safety which was inspired by an 11-year-old Birstall girl who was knocked down and seriously injured is being repeated.

And Kirklees Council has revealed work is to start on an £8,000 scheme this month to put a pedestrian refuge at the spot where the youngster was hurt.

In May the bell at St Peter's Church in Birstall was tolled 2,174 times which represented all those injured in road accidents in Kirklees throughout 1997.

More than 20 candles were also lit in memory of those killed or hurt in crashes. Prayers were said for them and there was a road safety display in the entrance to the church.

Now the Vicar, the Reverend Paul Knight, who came up with the idea, says the bellringing and prayers will be repeated on May 18 this year, on the anniversary of the first event, and is inviting people to attend.

He said: "The bellringing picked up on a need which was shown by the fact that about 150 people turned out to support it. Once again we also want to give people an opportunity to pray and light a candle for a loved one killed or injured in a road accident.

"I would like anybody interested in taking part to contact me. I am hoping to make the bellringing an annual event.''

The first tolling was held as part of a campaign for a pedestrian crossing at the junction of nearby Bradford Road and Kirkgate where Nardeanne Barnett, 11, of Monk Ings, was knocked down by a car in March.

The youngster spent ten weeks in hospital, including a week in intensive care, after suffering serious head and leg injuries, a broken pelvis and a crushed right arm. She has since returned to school and Mr Knight said she was continuing to make a good recovery.

A Council spokesman said: "Work will be starting at the end of January to install a pedestrian refuge on Bradford Road and is expected to take about three weeks.''

Mr Knight spearheaded a campaign for a crossing at the site which included a 2,000-name petition and pupils from two first schools staging a roadside demonstration.

But highways chiefs said the junction did not meet the criteria for a crossing and instead opted for a traffic island.

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