CHILDREN were sent fleeing in terror as a driver hurtled around a park at speed in car.

Michael Goodridge did donuts, with tyres smoking and screeching as young children got out of his way in Rumworth Park, Bolton Crown Court heard.

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Goodridge pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and The Honorary Recorder of Bolton Judge Timothy Clayson, heard how he committed the offence on May 11 last year.

Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, told how, at 7pm that evening, Dawn Thornber arrived back at her home at Rumworth Park Lodge to find two men, in a silver Vauxhall Astra, parked on her driveway.

She asked 43-year-old Goodridge, who was behind the wheel, what he was doing, and he initially claimed he had run out of petrol when she asked him to move.

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As he drove off Ms Thornber took his photograph but the a short while later she heard a girl's screams coming from the playground area of the park near her home.

Goodridge had driven the car onto a tarmaced area adjacent to the play equipment in Rumworth Park.

Mr Hayhoe told how witnesses described Goodridge as "driving like a madman".

"He was driving round in circles.

Tyres were screeching and smoke coming from them," said Mr Hayhoe.

"There were over a dozen people, all young children of primary school age on the tarmac area.

"Children were running out of the way as the Astra was doing donuts.

"It looked like he was driving at people then swerving out of the way."

Ms Thornber told police that the incident lasted for around 30 seconds before the driver headed straight towards her and slammed on his brakes, skidding to a halt.

And when she told him she had called police he warned her: "You don't want to mess about." Goodridge, who had no driving licence or insurance, was arrested a short time later and initially denied he had been driving.

Nicholas Ross, defending, requested that sentencing be adjourned until November 28 in order to obtain a medical report on Goodridge, of Oakford Walk, Daubhill, who has health problems.