A TOTAL of 21 people were killed on Cheshire’s roads last year, new figures show, but casualty numbers remain lower than before the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic saw road casualties drop across Great Britain as drivers stayed at home during lockdowns, but charities have warned the Government must do more tackle an uptick in injuries from traffic accidents.

Provisional figures from the Department for Transport suggest there were 633 road casualties in Cheshire West and Chester in 2021 – a rise from 550 the year before, but fewer than the 743 in 2019.

Fewer people were killed on the area's roads last year – six people died, while eight were killed in 2020.

Meanwhile, 149 serious injuries were recorded – an increase on the year before, when 122 people were badly hurt.

In Cheshire East, the figures are slightly higher.

Provisional figures from the Department for Transport suggest there were 733 road casualties in 2021 – a rise from 645 the year before, but fewer than the 751 in 2019.

The same number of people were killed on the area's roads last year as in 2020 – 15 people died in both years.

Meanwhile, 152 serious injuries were recorded – an increase on the year before, when 139 people were badly hurt.

Overall, across Great Britain there were 127,967 road casualties in 2021 – an 11 per cent rise on the year before – while 1,560 people were killed.

Of those who died, 686 were car users, but 363 pedestrians and 299 motorcyclists were also killed.

The number of pedal cyclists who lost their lives dropped by 20 per cent from 141 in 2020 to 113 last year.

Commenting on the Department for Transport's figures, Mark Turner, chief executive of the Road Victims Trust, said: "It remains a terrible fact that four people will be killed on the roads of the UK each day, with many more suffering life-changing injuries.

"The devastation and trauma caused by these collisions is immense and it is disturbing to see a climb in the numbers of people affected."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “While there has been a decline in road casualties in recent years, any fatality on our roads is a tragedy and our sympathies remain with anyone who has lost a loved one.

“Road safety is a top priority we are committed to improving through education and updates to the Highway Code that will help protect vulnerable road users, alongside our highly successful THINK! campaign.”