Codenamed Operation Pasture, the scheme was named the best example of the county's partnership problem-solving initiatives at this year's Lancashire Constabulary Problem Oriented Partnership (POP) Conference.

The scheme was the brainchild of Lune Valley Community Beat Manager PC Keith Collins who has become one of the country's leading experts on POPs.

PC Collins has now won the county's award twice and the national accolade on another two occasions. His last success came with Operation SeaQuest, an initiative which brought in safer working practices on More-cambe Bay after the cockling tragedy.

Rural roads in the Lune Valley area were highlighted as the third worst in the UK for collisions, with farm vehicles working a patchwork of fields over 5,000 acres. The high rainfall, limited forward visibility and mud on the roads were major contributors to the high collision rates.

A specially adapted road-cleaning trailer, safety awareness days, access management and publicity have resulted in a 100% drop in serious collisions and only one reported slight injury collision.

"I am due to retire next year so winning the force award was a great honour and especially significant," said PC Collins.