South Thanet MP Stephen Ladyman has been congratulated by transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick for record road safety figures achieved when he was in the transport ministry.

The 2007 figures, published this week, show that road deaths fell below 3,000 in Great Britain for the first time ever in 2007 and child casualties also fell by 7 per cent.

The figures were achieved at a time when Stephen Ladyman was transport minister.

In a letter to Dr Ladyuman announcing record figures, Mr Fitzpatrick wrote: "I am aware that you were road safety minister at the time and would like to congratulate on all your hard work that contributed to these results."

Dr Ladyman said: "I am delighted and very proud of these figures - perhaps my appearing on Top Gear worked after all.

"If just a few lives were saved by the campaigns I initiated then it was all worthwhile."