DROITWICH drivers are being urged to belt up in a new campaign aiming to decrease the number of motorists penalised.

The warning follows a 73 per cent increase in the number of drivers receiving a fixed penalty for not wearing a seatbelt in south Worcestershire in the last 12 months.

In a five-month period, 1,015 motorists were penalised, although the true number of identified offences is actually higher as some resulted in cautions and others in court appearances.

Chief Inspector Howard Owen, of South Worcestershire police, said: "The figures reflect our avowed intention to both uphold these highly important regulations and minimise both injury to both drivers and passengers involved in collisions and other motoring incidents in Malvern Hills, Worcester city and Wychavon."

He said the vast number of offences involved adult drivers and passengers but there were also a handful of cases involving children. Sir Jimmy Saville, who fronted the famous 'clunk-click' safety belt campaign 30 years ago, has returned to head up the new West Mercia police scheme.

In the first initiative of its kind by the force, 175,000 bookmarks are being distributed to schools to reinforce the message. The scheme also has the full support of Worcestershire County Council.