THE better weather is quite likely to prompt more horse riders to use Bolton’s roads.

So it’s a good time to appeal for a little patience and understanding from drivers — a situation highlighted at a Burnley court case this week.

Charlotte Watmough was riding her horse Merlin along a country lane in Baxenden when a van approached at speed. She signalled to the driver to slow down, but instead he had words with Charlotte before driving slightly ahead of horse and rider and then reversing his van into them, pushing them into a wall and injuring both.

He admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for a year.

There are plenty of horses and riders around the Bolton area and they often, by necessity, need to exercise on our roads. So, please, slow down and give them a wide berth. They are simply fellow road-users and need some consideration.