LIVES are being put at risk by youths throwing stones and bricks at cars from motorway bridges on the outskirts of Bolton.

Sixteen drivers have complained to police over the last six months that their vehicles have been hit by stones, bricks or pieces of wood thrown from three bridges over the M61 in the Farnworth and Little Hulton areas.

One of the bridges - in Anchor Lane - has been dubbed the worst in Greater Manchester with 11 stone-throwing incidents reported.

Police fear many more cars have been attacked by youths on the bridges without being reported.

Motorway officers fear someone will be killed if the attacks continue. With cars travelling at up to 70mph, they say drivers who lose control will have little chance of avoiding an accident.

Patrols are being increased to combat the increasing number of attacks.

There is also evidence that children are using the two-mile stretch of motorway as a playground - even playing games of "chicken by running across the carriageway in front of cars and lorries.

The Anchor Lane bridge, close to junction 4 of the motorway at Highfield, has been identified as the worst troublespot for attacks. Eleven complaints have been reported so far this year.

High-visibility patrols and unmarked cars will be deployed to target the stone-throwing youths and trespassers over the summer school holidays as the number of incidents normally increases at that time.

Roger Coles, traffic management officer for Greater Manchester Polices motorway unit, said: "The motorways should not be used a playground.

"We have this problem right across the network, but there is a stretch of the M61 where we have particular problems and we will be running regular patrols throughout the summer to target that area."

Other incidents reported on motorway bridges include fights between gangs from Little Hulton and Farnworth and youngsters climbing on to railings separating the motorway from footpaths.

Children are still playing the potentially lethal game of "chicken" by running across the motorway despite the death last February of 12-year-old Chelsea Hartigan when she ran across the M61 close to Lucas Road in the New Bury area.

Chelsea, of Harper Green Road, Farnworth, was crossing the motorway with friends for a dare when she was hit by four vehicles and killed.

An inquest into her death heard that youngsters use the motorway as a shortcut because badly-damaged fencing makes it easy for them to get onto the carriageway.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police are working with engineers from the Highways Agency to make footbridges less attractive for vandals and, in some areas, raising the height of barriers.

Mr Coles said: "In the Farnworth and Little Hulton areas, there are housing estates on either side of the motorway and unfortunately the bridges become a meeting place for youngsters, particularly in the summer.

"It can be particularly worrying even for a motorist to see youngsters gathering on a motorway bridge because the dangers are very clear.

"These children and teenagers need to recognise that when a motorist is travelling at 70 or 80 mph, a falling stone, no matter how small, can cause a huge amount of damage to a car or a person."

He added: "We are determined to crackdown on these foolish attacks. We will respond to every single report as an emergency incident with motorway patrols and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone involved."

Mr Coles said: "We will respond to every single report as an emergency incident with motorway patrols and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone involved."