A HEARTBROKEN mother is warning motorbike riders to be careful on the roads on the eve of what would have been her son’s 18th birthday.

Chantelle O’Neill’s son, Reece, died at the age of 16 when he crashed his motorbike into a bollard in Marsden Road, Bolton, in April last year.

He would have been celebrating his 18th birthday tomorrow.

Mrs O’Neill said she will be spending time with her family and will be visiting his grave.

She said his Reece’s loss has had a massive impact on the family, including on her son Kieran and daughter Jamie.

Now, she is raising awareness and wants people to be more cautious when driving.

Reece was on a stolen bike, and the inquest heard he was over the legal drink-driving limit and had traces of cannabis in his body when he died.

Mrs O’Neill, aged 36, John Boste Court, Manchester Road, in Great Lever, said: “People just do not realise how dangerous motorbikes are and that their actions change people’s lives.

“It has been so hard for the family. The day he died changed all of our lives.

“We will be spending time together this weekend, and there has been a lot of support and comments on Facebook.

“I want to warn again about the dangers of bikes.

People think they are invincible but they are not.

It only takes once. It is really scary.”

Reece was one of 13 people who died on the roads in Bolton last year.

Police launched Operation Dice to tackle drivers who risk lives — their own and others — by driving dangerously and flouting speeding, seat belt and mobile phone laws, which Mrs O’Neill backed.