A TIRELESS campaigner for road safety has been left with a ‘potentially life changing’ injury after colliding with a car on the very road he has been fighting to make safer.

Ribble Valley Borough councillor Ged Mirfin had to be airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital with a serious head injury after the collision with a black Renault Clio at the junction of Whalley Road and Elker Lane in Billington yesterday.

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The 45-year-old had been walking with his son a Year Six pupil at St Leonard's Primary School in Langho when the accident happened at around 8.50am.

Police said they spoke to the female driver of the car at the scene but described the incident as an ‘accident’ Its believed that she was also on the school run and Coun Mirfin, who lives in Abbey Terrace in Billington, had been trying to cross the road, officers said.

Earlier this year the political blogger and consultant lobbied Lancashire County Council to introduce traffic calming measures in Whalley Road.

He had been contacted by St Augustine’s pupil Joseph Taylor in January after becoming worried that the main road was too dangerous.

County Hall took up the issue and a 20mph zone was created opposite the high school in March.

Mr Mirfin’s close friend Kevin Horkin, said: “I was extremely saddened to hear the news of Ged’s accident.

“He is without a doubt one of our most hard working and diligent councillors at Ribble Valley.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and his young family.

“This is a very distressing time for everyone who knows him.

“It’s very shocking for everybody and I’m hoping that we will have further news about his condition soon.

“He’s a very close friend of mine and I’m deeply saddened by this.”

Coun Carl Ross, who also represents the area on the borough council, said: “I’m of course sending my best wishes to Coun Mirfin.

“It’s a dangerous road and a serious accident has been waiting to happen there for a long long time.

“It’s sad because we are responsible for people’s lives and we are failing them at the moment.

“There is certainly room for improvement and safety measures such as a pelican crossing needs to be installed on that road.

“This is a very sad thing to have happened and I hope that he recovers soon.”

The dad-of-three’s injuries have been described by the police as ‘potentially life altering’.

Sgt Dave Smith of Clitheroe Police said: “He is in a stable condition but has suffered quite a serious injury to his head. It’s potentially life changing.

“The female driver of the car was spoken informally at the scene by officers and no further action will take place at this stage.

“We believe that the woman lives locally and was also doing the school run.

“There is no suggestion that the nearby road works had anything to do with this incident.”

Coun Stuart Hirst, leader of the borough council, sent an e-mail to Conservative councillors yesterday to update them on Coun Mirfin’s condition.

Coun Mirfin’s last public engagement was at the Planning and Development Committee meeting in Clitheroe on Thursday.

Elected in 2011, he also sits on the Community, Parish Council Liaison and Accounts and Audit committees.

He was awarded a PhD from The University of Hull in 1994 in international political economy and has also served as a governor at St Leonard’s CE Primary School, Langho.