POLICE have stepped in to save a nursery school trip after they agreed to escort toddlers over a busy main road in Horwich.

A group of 16 three-year-olds from Meadow Hill Nursery looked set to have their annual educational trip to Bolton town centre ruined because of fears they would not have been able to cross Chorley New Road safely to a bus stop.

For the last four years, police had given children a police escort over the road - but police initially told nursery owner Sonia Biggs that they would not be able to help this year.

But following a story in Monday's Bolton Evening News highlighting their plight, police decided to change their mind and agreed to escort the children across the road.

And yesterday the tots were delighted to be finally going on their trip to Bolton town centre to visit the library, have lunch at the Octagon Theatre and visit Bolton Museum and Aquarium.

Mrs Biggs, who has been running the Chorley New Road nursery for 15 years, said: "Chorley New Road is a notoriously busy road. Trying to get 16 three-year-olds safely across the road would have been difficult.

"I would have stopped the traffic myself if the police had not stepped in.

"After the article we contacted Chief Inspector Simon Miskell who agreed to give us a police escort over the road. I think it is their public duty to escort the children over the road.

Insp Simon Miskell said: "At a time when a lot of kids' trips are being prevented for various issues, it is always a pleasure to allow it to go ahead and we hope that they have a great day out."