THE junction of Swadford Street and Keighley Road in Skipton is the most dangerous in North Yorkshire.

New figures for the last three years show that more road traffic accidents involving injury occurred at that single spot than anywhere else in the county.

There have been 21 accidents there since 1999 - three more than in Northallerton High Street.

However, 13 of them occurred in 1999, seven in 2000 and only one last year.

Most of the injuries were described as "slight", putting the site second in a list compiled according to severity. Top of the list is the Bilbrough Top junction on the A64 near York, where there have been a number of fatal accidents.

Craven has four entries in the top 10 list of sites where there have been injuries caused by road accidents, and ranked according to severity and frequency in the last three years.

As well as Swadford Street (second), the junction of the A59 with the A6069 Broughton Road is fourth, the junction of Knaresborough Road with the Skipton bypass is sixth and the junction of Otley Road, Skipton, with the A65 is 10th.

A campaign to improve the lighting and safety at the A59 and A6069 has been running for several years without success.

The accident figures were presented to a meeting of the county's Craven Area Committee yesterday (Thursday).

Members were informed that the number of accidents involving injury was declining in line with targets but there should be no complacency.

Other Craven sites featuring in the list of black spots are:

11 Skirbeck, Long Preston, on the A65;

18 Kildwick roundabout;

36 Keighley Road junction with Craven Street, Skipton;

37 Bunkers Hill and Newmarket Street junction, Skipton;

47 Bolton Bridge roundabout on the A59;

95 Cononley Lane Ends;

107 Turn off to Halton East on A65;

130 Thorlby roundabout on the Skipton bypass;

141 Mill Bridge, Skipton;

151 Turn off to Thorpe on Skipton to Grassington road;

152 Broughton Road junction with Broughton Mews, Skipton;

158 Ingleton turn off on the A65.

Traffic calming measures for Keighley Road, Skipton, have gone out to public consultation this week.

These proposals include a 30mph limit from the roundabout at Skipton Ford into town, a roundabout at the Snaygill Industrial Estate junction and making Cross Street one-way.

For a long time people working on the Snaygill Estate have been complaining about the length of time it takes to pull out safely on to the busy Keighley Road. Traffic jams back up down the driveway.

It will also ask for residents' views on installing traffic lights at the Keighley Road and Carleton Road junction with a pedestrian phase to help people get across to the hospital.

The plans and questionnaires should be available in local libraries from today (Friday) until June 21. Comments should be returned to Mike Moore, director of environmental services, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AH.