A HUDDERSFIELD charity was at the centre of a storm over Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond.

Road safety campaigners Brake and a politician have accused Top Gear of sending out an "irresponsible" message to viewers that speed does not kill.

Brake said the BBC programme's Jeremy Clarkson "glamorised" speeding in comments about co-presenter Hammond's dragster crash.

Dramatic footage of Hammond's 288mph accident was shown for the first time on Sunday night's BBC2 programme Top Gear.

Aired on the first show of the new series, it revealed the 36-year-old's miraculous escape when he crashed while filming a stunt for the programme in September.

Dianne Ferreira, spokeswoman for Brake, said: "Jeremy Clarkson said on Sunday's programme 'speed kills' and then pointed at Richard Hammond as if to say 'speed doesn't kill'.

"This glamorised speeding. The programme is watched by impressionable young people, many of whom who have just passed their test and they are mad about cars.

"They are easily influenced and remarks like that are very irresponsible and could tempt them to speed."

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake the national road safety charity, said: "Clarkson's comment was highly irresponsible and offensive to anyone who has been bereaved or injured at the hands of a speeding driver.

"In 2005, exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for the conditions was a contributory factor in almost a third (29%) of fatal crashes in Great Britain.

"Hammond's crash was carried out under test conditions at an airfield. Richard Hammond was driving a purpose-built off-road vehicle with specially-designed safety features and Richard himself was wearing protective clothing and a crash helmet.

"He was extremely fortunate to have made a full recovery – many people injured in crashes are not so lucky.

"A shockingly disproportionate number of young male drivers are dying on our roads and it is highly irresponsible for the BBC to allow Top Gear, with its target audience of young males, to openly make light the deadly act of speeding."

The Scottish Green Party joined the attack, demanding Clarkson publicly apologise for the comments and accusing him of "childish arrogance".

Party leader Robin Harper MSP said: "Jeremy Clarkson should publicly say sorry. The glamorisation of driving at high speeds is unacceptable.

"People die on our roads every day and speed is often the main culprit. Mr Clarkson's almost childish arrogance contrasts sharply with such a serious problem."

Hammond made a miraculous recovery after the crash in which he sustainedhead injuries.

He paid tribute to the staff at Leeds General Infirmary and to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who were the first on the scene after the accident at Elvington near York.

His recovery prompted a huge fundraising effort for the Air Ambulance, raising more than £200,000.