GRIEVING parents have expressed outrage at a 30-month jail sentence handed out to the hit and run driver who killed their son.

Anthony Wynne, 31, who had only ever had two driving lessons in his life, went over the bridge on Cleggs Lane, Little Hulton, so fast his car took off and hit motorcyclist Gareth Willis, 29, coming the other way.

The impact catapulted Mr Willis, from Iris Avenue, Farnworth, into a field with multiple injuries and left his young son, Joseph, then aged seven, lying unconscious in the road.

And today his angry father, Geoff Willis, said: "This sentence tells people 'kill someone, and you can be out within about seven or so months'.

"It is not inconceivable that he will be out by early next year - we have lost our son forever."

Wynne, who had never owned a driving licence, had been drinking earlier in the day.

He ran off, leaving the Mr Willis dying, and son, Joseph, for dead. He surrendered to police the following day saying: "I'm sorry for what I've done".

And yesterday, at Manchester Crown Court, Wynne, from Ash Grove, Walkden, who had previous convictions for car crime -- including four offences of taking motor vehicles without consent -- was sentenced by Judge Jonathan Geake. You have never had a driving licence, and you have been flouting these laws for some time, hoping not to get caught He told him: "You have never had a driving licence, and you have been flouting these laws for some time, hoping not to get caught.

"The pictures of how the bike ended up are quite horrifying."

Wynne admitted causing death by dangerous driving, having no insurance, no driving licence and failing to stop after an accident. He was jailed for 30 months and banned from driving for five years.

The tragedy happened in May, 1999, when Mr Willis, a member of the KTM racing club, was riding his Kawasaki 250cc along Cleggs Lane, with his son riding pillion.

Wynne had been drinking in a pub and had two pints of bitter and a bottle of lager. He took his girlfriend's Rover car following a heated row.

Prosecuting, Mr Steven Johnson, said witnesses saw Wynne doing in the region of 50mph, and heard him revving the engine and wheel spinning in the run up to the accident.

The Rover car hit Brack Lane Bridge in the middle of the road, causing the car to lift off.

Impact sent Mr Willis flying into the air, knocking his helmet off. The car smashed into a fence, dragging the motorbike with it. After the accident a police helicopter was scrambled and a patrol sent to find Wynne, but he had disappeared.

Mr Willis suffered two broken legs, a broken pelvis, ruptured spleen and major head injuries. He died in Royal Bolton Hospital. Joseph suffered a broken leg and underwent surgery.

His mother, Margaret, said: "This sentence is absolutely disgraceful and we intend to appeal against it. This man never took a driving test and had just driving lessons."

Her husband, Geoff, added: "This is sending out the wrong message to all the maniacs who go round taking cars, without licence, and causing accidents. All this sentence is doing is saying they can get away with it.

"We feel a lot of things -- anger, frustration and disbelief that justice has not been seen to be done. He should serve about five years.

"The affect of the accident on this family is unbelievable. It has torn us apart. Gareth's brother, Terry, took a year out of college to look after his mother, but now is struggling to get back in, we have not seen our grandchildren for months, and we have still not received the insurance money to pay for Gareth's funeral.

"We have started a drop-in centre in Farnworth for people suffering from mental problems. Without that diversion I do not know how we would have coped."