TEENAGE racers playing a cat and mouse game just yards from two schools and a college are putting lives in danger, claim nearby residents.

The youths are driving at speed down Lever Edge Lane, in Great Lever, at more than the legal 30 mph limit, turning the area into a grand prix course according to one worried resident.

And now residents fear a tragic accident unless the police take swift action.

They claim the teenagers:

use a rat-run down a nearby council estate

tail-gate law-abiding motorists

do wheelspins and handbrake turns

One resident claimed a gang of youths drove straight at her and her child as they were getting out of their car -- then laughed as they sped away.

A BEN reporter and photographer saw first hand a red Honda Civic driven by four youths repeatedly driving up and down the street at speed -- and caught them on camera.

When they went back for a second visit, the same Honda was again speeding down Lever Edge Lane.

But this time it was stopped by police, three miles away on Wheatfield Street, The Haulgh, where officers in two cars questioned the driver.

It was, according to residents, just one example of a problem stretching back more than two years. Joan Sanderson, aged 77 and the only person willing to be named, said: "It's disgraceful what's going on. The speed they go at is terrible.

"They also stop in the middle of the road between parked cars and talk to people, holding the traffic up. There's no consideration for anyone."

Hayward School, Lever Edge Primary School and Bolton Sixth Form College (South) are situated on the road and residents say they fear for the lives of the young pupils.

One said: "It is worse at school lunchtimes and hometime. Once one of the gangs drove straight at me, seemed to speed up and then turned at the last moment, laughing.

"They are very abusive, especially when we ask them to move on. But the police say they can't do anything because they lack the facilities."

Another added: "They park on zig-zags, go at top speeds and are very rude. They tend to enjoy skidding and racing. The estate is like a grand prix course." Harper Green councillor Margaret Clare said: "I would like to see traffic calming measures and I have asked the highways committee for backing but I haven't been successful yet. I will keep on trying. The area can be a hot bed of juvenile problems."

Bolton Sixth Form College principal Mr Roy Whittle has refuted claims that the culprits are from the college.

He said: "This issue is of considerable concern for me because we are worried about the safety of our students.

"We don't believe the young speeders are from the college but are instead probably people who know the students here. We would not tolerate our students doing this and if we caught any of them were we would ask them to leave.

"But we were hoping that speed cameras would be put up along the road."

Francis Barry, headteacher of Lever Edge Primary School, echoed his view. He said: "We worry about our children, especially at hometime when they leave the school.

"So far we have made the pupils aware of traffic problems but it would be nice if something proper was done.

"We also have a problem with a lack of zig-zag lines at our Halsall Drive entrance because so many cars park there and block the views of youngsters crossing the road."

Sergeant Barry Fairclough, of Bolton Police traffic unit, would not comment on the matter although he acknowledged there was a problem.

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