A road safety campaigner whose son was killed in an accident five years ago has hailed as a "great success" measures to cut accidents on the A61 in North Yorkshire.

County councillor Richard Thomas lost his 30-year-old son Charles in a motorbike accident on the A169 Pickering-Whitby Road. He said the tragedy had helped him to understand the feelings of grieving relatives affected by fatal accidents.

The North Yorkshire County councillor who represents the Haverah division, taking in a string of villages between Ripon and Harrogate on or near the A61, was at the forefront of a campaign to secure safety measures on the 12m stretch.

Improvements have dramatically cut the accident rate and a recent lorry crash at Wormald Green, when a vehicle overturned just outside the village, was the first serious accident in 17 months. No other vehicle was involved and there were no injuries.

Coun Thomas, who made personal representations to the county council for action, said: "I am so pleased that the action taken has had an effect on what I had called death highway at the time."

Accidents between Ripon and Harrogate on the road had claimed ten lives in five years, including four in one month. There had been a total of 217 accidents.

Improvements as part of a £181,500 safety package have already been introduced at Bishop Monkton, Wormald Green, Ripley and the notorious Brearton turn-off. An additional £10,000 has been spent at South Stainley.

Speed limits have been introduced, traffic islands erected, anti-skid surfaces laid and signs improved. Passing areas should be in place by August.

One will be created at the notorious Daffodil Bends at the entrance into Ripon