NEIGHBOURS fear joyriders could return to a residential road following a decision to move barriers they say have helped stop speeding cars.

Residents living in Freshfield Avenue, Great Lever, say concrete barriers installed outside number 116 last March have prevented cars from speeding round the corner from Netherfield Road.

The barriers were introduced after angry parents Jackie Perry and Pete Barratt demanded action having seen six cars plough into their house at the junction with Garswood Road in just five years.

But Bolton Council's planning and highways committee has now decided to move the barriers east, to a point outside number 104 at a cost of £3,000, in response to a 50-signature petition objecting to their current position.

Other residents fear that could open the floodgates to joy-riders and put their children's safety at risk.

The barriers are currently outside the home of Nyengo Boto at the junction with Netherfield Road. He fears for the safety of his children, Valencia, aged two, and Rose, aged one, if they are moved.

"The barriers have stopped joyriders from speeding round the corner from Netherfield Road," he said.

"If they are moved further along there will be nothing to stop them.

Mr Barratt, who bricked up his boundary fence to slow cars on the Garswood Road bend, said the barriers had helped.

"Moving them closer can only make it safer for us, but I think they are fine where they are," he said.

The new location was chosen following a survey, which offered residents a choice of three positions, including the existing one, which polled 20 votes.

A closure further west, near The Meade, won 19 votes, with the location backed by councillors gaining a slim majority with 22 supporters.

Traffic management group engineer Terry Bullock advised the committee that it should opt for barriers near The Meade.

But the committee backed Cllr Laurie Williamson's call for it to go with the survey majority.

He said that cars were driving on the grass to pass the barriers in their current location.