EUROVISION song contest winner, Mike Nolan, helped launch a new campaign in Gloucestershire to mark 25 years since wearing a seat belt was made compulsory by law.

The 80s star from pop group Bucks Fizz joined forces with Gloucestershire police and Gloucestershire County Council to drive home the importance of belting up for every single journey.

The 54-year-old singer suffered severe head injuries after he was thrown from the band's tour bus in 1984 near Newcastle.

As a result he was hospitalised for six weeks, lost 50 per cent of his vision and suffers from epileptic fits. He has not been able to drive since.

He travelled from Essex to launch the campaign yesterday alongside Gloucestershire Chief Constable Tim Brain and Hannah Creed, a 19-year-old crash victim.

Mr Nolan, who is patron of road safety group BUSK (belt up school kids), said: "Although I do not remember the collision itself I have to live with the consequences of it every day.

"I know that had I been wearing a proper seatbelt this could have been avoidable and so I urge people to always buckle up when travelling.

"This one simple action can greatly reduce serious injury and save lives."

The Chief Constable said that a quarter of a century was a "remarkable" anniversary and a timely reminder that seatbelts saved lives.

Dr Brain said: "Making the use of seatbelts compulsory for passengers and drivers 25 years ago has made a significant difference to what is happening on our roads today and it is important that we recognise this.

"Where once the number of deaths or serious injuries on the county's roads averaged around 1,300 a year, the number now stands at 268 during 2006.

"Nationally, according to government research, seat belt wearing saves more than 2,000 lives every year - that's five lives saved every single day."

Member of the Roads Policing Unit have already been out and about enforcing the law on seatbelts and those caught without a seatbelt will be offered an opportunity to pay a fine or attend an educational course on road safety.