MOTORIST taking short cuts to avoid a new set of traffic lights are causing misery for residents in nearby roads.

Homeowners in Deane say lives of children are being put at risk.

Drivers are using back streets to avoid the lights recently installed at the junction of Hulton Lane and Wigan Road to improve traffic flow.

Local resident Geoff Pollitt, aged 66, said: "This area is well populated and there are a lot of children who play in the back streets and people who walk through them to the nearby shops.

"But motorists are using them like normal roads and travel at some speed.

"Some of these back roads have blind turnings and drivers can't see properly when they are coming out.

"The motorists are making it dangerous for pedestrians.

"Action needs to be taken now before there is an accident, not after.

"Simple measures could stop the cars from travelling down the streets, such as pedestrian friendly barriers or no entry signs."

The roads affected are Back Wigan Road, Back Hulton Street, Patterson Street and Deane Church Lane.

A motorist who uses the short cut, said: "The traffic lights have done nothing to improve the flow of cars at peak times in Wigan Road.

"If anything, they have added to an already unacceptable situation on one of the main arterial routes into Bolton.

"I sympathise with the residents, but using the short cut can take anything up to five minutes off a journey time."

Bolton Council's highways department said the traffic lights were installed following public consultation, but added that officers were aware of the problem and were looking into the concerns of the residents.

A spokesman for the council said: "We have been undertaking traffic surveys and investigations.

"We have been in discussions with ward members and residents and we are developing some proposals to prevent rat-running, which we will be sending out for consultation shortly."