PARENTS have repeated their fears that a child may be killed by reckless drivers or speeding criminals cutting across a field.

They are calling for work to be completed before summer to protect their children after a child had a near-miss with a quad bike last week.

Earlier this year residents in Halliwell demanded action to stop speeding criminals using the field near St Matthew’s Walk and Pentland Terrace to get away from police — after a young girl was narrowly missed by a van before Christmas.

A petition was launched calling on Bolton Council to tackle the problem.

Now the quad bike incident which involved a four-year-old girl has heightened their fears.

Becky Keane, who has been leading the campaign, backed by MP Sir David Crausby, says that the police have told them that a fence will be erected around the field, or that bollards may be put up.

But residents claim they have not been given start date, and are urging work to begin as soon as possible.

Mrs Keane, who lives in St Matthew’s Walk said: “We have started the petition going again because we weren’t hearing anything.

“It seems the council were stalling a bit. The last thing we heard they were talking to the fire service, thinking that the bollards might create an issue for access to nearby properties.

“Then over the weekend the issue with bikes and cars started up again.”

Mrs Keane who has two daughters, Holly, aged five, and Leah, aged 10, said the the field is a popular spot for dirt bikes and joyriders during the summer.

She added: “We need the work done before the summer. With the nice weather children are playing out and you can guarantee that there will always be quadbikes. It brings out the idiots.

“It’s not going to be long before someone is really hurt or killed.

“A little girl was nearly hit again at the weekend when a quad bike came down the middle path.

“As the bike came down they didn’t realise she was there. The girl froze with fear. She didn’t know what to do.

“Some of the kids have been building ramps but they couldn’t go over it. So as they went round, the little girl had to jump out of the way at the last minute.”

It is understood that plans to erect defences on the field are being considered by Bolton At Home who manage the land and properties around the area.

However it is believed the work will be carried by the council’s highways department.

A joint statement from Bolton At Home and Bolton Council said: “Discussions took place between Bolton at Home, the council and Greater Manchester Police to identify appropriate measures to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

“Work will start soon to install 34 metres of railing at key access points. This will be a combination of knee-high rails and pedestrian guard rails, deigned to prevent the area being used as a cut-through by drivers.

“Bolton Council will carry out the work, which is being funded by Bolton at Home.”

The announcements have been welcomed by Sir David Crausby MP.

He said: “I support the campaign and I am pleased that the council are promising the right things.

“But there needs to be some urgency and they do need to get on with it before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

“We have written to the council and I’m putting pressure on them, and I’m pleased that they are saying the right things, now they have got to do the right things.

“It really needs to be done as an absolute priority by the council.”