PASSENGERS in Keynsham are the worst offenders for not fastening their seatbelts, according to new figures just released by Avon and Somerset police.

Front and back seat passengers from the town came in as the most at risk in a survey that monitored traffic in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset throughout last month.

Of the eight districts studied, nearly a quarter of front seat passengers in the town, 24 per cent, were not fastening their seatbelts. A further 55 per cent were found to have not belted up when sitting in the rear of the vehicle.

This compares to just 34 per cent of rear seat passengers in Bath and only 10 per cent of front seat passengers in Midsomer Norton.

The average number of rear seat passengers without a seatbelt for the three Bristol districts studied Southmead, Barton Hill and Bishopsworth was 49 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, Lawrie Lewis, head of the force's Road Policing Unit, said: "The figures make disappointing reading. Sadly officers have to deal with the grim consequences of people not wearing their seat belts all too often."

Mike Baugh, road safety co-ordinator at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: "I think these are snapshot figures that could very well have been different on the next day.

"One explanation is that because Keynsham is a small town, then people are taking shorter distances and perhaps not feeling like they need to wear a seatbelt.

"That is, however, very worrying especially if children are in the car.

"It is also very worrying to think that more than half of those surveyed were not wearing seatbelts in the back.

"That is potentially a hugely dangerous risk as they can damage the passengers sitting in the front of the car if a crash occurs."