A car with a blood- spattered casualty' poking through the windscreen grabbed the attention of shoppers in Oxford's Westgate shopping centre.

Fortunately, the crashed' Peugeot and mannequin was a mock-up, arranged by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service today to raise awareness of seatbelt safety.

The stunt was part of Oxfordshire firefighter Bob Paterson's Ride for Life, launched in memory of his son Dale, who was not wearing his seatbelt properly when he was killed, aged 13, in a car crash in Italy.

Mr Paterson and colleagues Neil Godfrey, Owen Pates and Steve Jordan have already cycled from Land's End, in Cornwall, stopping at schools and supermarkets on the way to spread the safety message.

Mr Paterson said: "We've handed out thousands of leaflets and the school talks have been very well received.

"A lot of people have stopped and said 'urgh' - but then they have taken a leaflet. A picture speaks a thousand words and hopefully this will really stick in people's heads when they get in a car."

The team aims to reach John O'Groats by June 18.