VALE motorists and passengers are being urged to belt up following a sharp increase in the number of seat belt offences.

More than 1,000 people in South Worcestershire were penalised for not wearing seatbelts between April and August this year - an increase of more than 73 per cent. West Mercia police fear the figure is likely to be much higher, with many offenders receiving cautions.

Chief Inspector Howard Owen said: "The figures reflect our avowed intention to uphold these highly important regulations and minimise injury to both drivers and passengers involved in collisions and other motoring incidents in Wychavon."

The majority of offences involved adult drivers and passengers, but there were 28 cases of children not belting up too. Chf Insp Owen said: "The vast majority of adults can make a decision - hopefully the right one - about seat belts. Children, especially when they are younger, are not, particularly when they are set a bad example.

"Youngsters are, in reality, put at risk by one or more adults travelling with them making the wrong - and illegal - choice on their behalf, with perhaps horrifying and sometimes fatal consequences." Special bookmarks are being distributed to schoolchildren in the Vale in a bid to reduce the number of people not wearing a seat belt.

Sir Jimmy Savile was the man behind the original 'Clunk-Click' safety belt campaign, but 30 years later the message is still not getting through. Last year 96 people died and 50,50 were injured in collisions on the road in the force area. One in 10 of those who died, or were seriously injured, were not wearing a seat belt.