ROAD safety chiefs are launching a campaign to cut the number of children injured in accidents in the New Forest.

Youngsters travelling in cars are more likely to be hurt in the Forest than almost anywhere else in Hampshire, according to the latest figures.

In 2001 accidents in the area resulted in injuries to 97 children - more than half of whom were vehicle occupants.

Now Hampshire Police and the county council are urging parents to fit child restraints and make sure youngsters always wear seatbelts.

Police are also about to launch a blitz on drivers and passengers who fail to belt up.

Inspector Lee Warhurst, of Lyndhurst police, said: "A child in the New Forest is more than twice as likely to be injured if they're a passenger in a vehicle than if they're a pedestrian. They are also nearly four times as likely to be injured in a vehicle than if they are on a bicycle.''

Brockenhurst councillor Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "We're very pleased to be working with Hampshire Police on this extremely important campaign.

"The statistics speak for themselves and make sobering reading.

"The simple act of ensuring that seatbelts and restraints are used on every journey, no matter how short, can prevent injury and save lives.''

Parents seeking advice and information about seatbelts and restraints can visit a special exhibition bus that will start to tour the Forest on Monday.

It will be parked outside the Safeway supermarket in Michigan Way, Totton, between 8am and 5pm. Lyndhurst, Lymington and Hythe are among the other Forest towns and villages that will receive a visit.

The campaign marks the 20th anniversary of the year that wearing of front seatbelts became compulsory.

A Department of Transport spokesman said front seatbelts were estimated to have saved 50,000 lives and prevented 590,000 serious casualties since the law was introduced in 1983.

Hampshire Police spokeswoman Rebecca English said it was also vital to belt up in the back.

She said: "If a vehicle crashes at 30mph an unbelted rear passenger is thrown forward with the force of about 3.5 tonnes - the weight of a baby elephant.''