FARMERS in the region have been urged to be not so "cavalier" in their attitude to health and safety, after a study found the North-East and Yorkshire is the country’s worst agricultural accident blackspot.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and the CLA, formerly the Country Landowners Association, have issued the appeal after it emerged 11 of the country’s 31 fatal farming accidents between April 2013 and March 2014 took place in the region.

A Health and Safety Executive study said these included a 79-year-old worker who was not wearing a seat belt and had not received training dying from head injuries after being trapped underneath an all-terrain vehicle and two men dying after falling through fragile roofs.

It also highlighted the cases of a 24-year-old farm worker who was found electrocuted underneath a diet feeder and a farm worker, 53, who was suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a runaway tractor and muck spreader.

Overturning vehicles or being struck by a moving vehicle accounted for 32 per cent of the deaths, injuries from animals for 23 per cent and falling from a height 16 per cent.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said she was appalled when she saw the Yorkshire and North East figures, adding that it appeared some farmers were displaying a "cavalier" attitude towards health and safety.

She said the high number of deaths in the region could be linked to the amount of intensive farming the in the area, the number of farmers working alone and the upland nature of much of the agriculture, where vehicles are more likely to overturn.

Mrs Fairburn said: “This figure is simply not acceptable.

"Behind each one of these deaths is a family tragedy, many of which could have been avoided with more care and attention to safety procedures."

NFU North East regional director Richard Pearson said understanding why the region had a greater share of fatalities could be the key to reducing them, and questioned if workers on smaller farms were trying to cut corners by taking on jobs suitable for professionals.

He said: "They are putting themselves at risk in cost-cutting exercises."

The NFU is working to help raise awareness of health and safety issues by producing briefings and business guides to help farmers consider risks.

Mr Pearson said: “Just taking a moment to stop and think about what could go wrong could save your life."