MOVES to stop motorists speeding down a busy pedestrianised shopping area in Farnworth have been unveiled.

Residents and councillors in Farnworth fear lives could be lost because motorists are using Brackley Street as a rat run.

They and police want to install moving bollards to prevent motorists from driving along the pedestrianised route.

Up to £50,000 has been allocated for the scheme and work could begin in the next few months if the plan is given the go ahead at next month's Farnworth area forum.

Farnworth Cllr Noel Spencer, said: "This has been a problem which has been going on for years. These motorists are catching pedestrians walking on Brackley Street unaware.

"All the councillors in Farnworth have discussed the issue to find the best way to stop motorists driving down Brackley Street, and we are looking at hydraulic bollards."

Michelle Daubney, a mother from Farnworth, said: "There has been an increasing number of cars speeding up and down the pedestrianised zone of Brackley Street. This has been a problem for many years and has become a lot worse lately.

"I was walking with my three-year-old son earlier this month towards ASDA, and experienced a dangerous driver speeding up the street.

"I had to shout at my son who was running up the middle of the pedestrian path and we moved out of the way.

"This is now becoming such a regular occurrence, I feel the problem needs highlighting and these dangerous drivers need naming and shaming.

"What is the point of paying thousands of pounds to make the area a pedestrian zone when idiot drivers like these endanger lives?

"My mother is disabled and can not walk very far, and there is no way that she would drive up that area, and she would have a good reason to. There is a perfectly good car park a couple of metres away."

A spokesman for Bolton Council, said: "We are aware that there is a problem with unauthorised vehicles using this pedestrianised area and we are in discussions with the police about the driving of vehicles on there.

"We will also be carrying out additional parking enforcement which should hopefully reduce the number of vehicles being parked illegally. We will then monitor the situation to see whether or not additional measures are required."