TWO teenagers have been taken to hospital after a serious crash in Farnworth.

The youngsters, thought to be between 14 and 15, were involved in an incident at around 1.30pm on Bradford Road.

The road is closed between Lavender Road and Minerva Road as police investigate.

Both youngsters were rushed to "major head trauma" units and at least one has been sent to Salford Royal Infirmary.

The crash involved three cars, although one is thought to have been parked on the street, according to Greater Manchester Police.

Police said they found one of the injured people, a boy, unconscious at the scene.

A group of other men abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot.

Residents of the street say that car crashes are something that have been happening more and more in the area.

Ifat Khan, who lives with her family in Bradford Road, said her sister heard screaming after the crash.

Ms Khan said: "It's really bad, my sister heard people scream. We are just hoping and praying the family are okay. You would never want to get a phone call like they one they have had.

"This year has been quite bad for car accidents on this road. We think they should do something about it, like speed bumps or extra speed cameras, but that might not stop people."

Beatrice Harwood returned to Bradford Street to find the cars involved right outside her house, but says she was not surprised to see a serious crash.

Ms Harwood said: "This road is like a racetrack, people are always going too fast. We're quite used to it, at night you can hear boy racers coming up and down. It's only a matter of time before a child is hit." 

A blue car, which appears to be a Peugeot, and another white vehicle were heavily damaged in the incident and both remain in the road as police continue their investigations.

One of the cars is thought to have been stolen.

Other emergency services are also at the scene and an air ambulance arrived but has since left the area.

Greater Manchester Police have issued an urgent appeal for information, witnesses and footage.

GMP Traffic said on Twitter: "Urgent appeal. Can any person who has witnessed the collision on Bradford Road in Bolton please contact GMP quoting log 1129 7/7/19 in particular any person with dashcam footage and also the driver of a silver van who may have dash cam footage."

Councillor to Harper Green, Sue Haworth, said: “It is very sad indeed to hear of a major car accident today on Bradford Road.

"We agreed a driver feedback sign last year for Bradford Road on the route going south near Carnation Road as just one of the tools in the box to try and reduce vehicle speeding in the area. 

"We want to fund more of the initiatives that work and bring about reduced speeding.

"Residents lobby the most for speed cameras, which require police authorisation, as many think that fines are the only way to get on top of the out of control roads we seem to have in the ward.”