A PRIMARY school headteacher claims her pupils are being put at risk by reckless drivers on a narrow lane that residents have nicknamed "The Racetrack".

Lostock County Primary head Lorraine Kemp called for the introduction of traffic calming measures on Glengarth Drive which, according to neighbours, has been turned into a high speed rat run.

Residents have resumed their 17 year campaign for a 20 miles per hour speed limit on the winding road following the reopening to traffic of a bridge on Rumworth Road.

Miss Kemp said something needed to be done to protect children entering and leaving the school.

She said: "We are pleased the bridge has reopened but now we are facing more traffic on the road outside the school. Traffic calming measures are needed to slow cars down because parents are worried for their children's safety as they enter and leave the school."

The bridge reopened last Monday after Bolton Council had spent 18 months carrying out structural work on behalf of Network Rail - formerly Railtrack.

Bob Flitcroft, group engineer at the council's environmental department has since written to residents saying that he hopes new weight and width restrictions on the bridge would discourage heavier vehicles from the area.

But Lostock resident Norman Duckworth said the real problems were car drivers who routinely ignore the 30mph speed limit.

Mr Duckworth, aged 60, of Bryantsfield, said: "Glengarth Drive is being turned into a race track and we fear it could result in someone being seriously injured.

"This road is not designed to take such heavy levels of traffic. As more and more people begin to realise that the bridge is open again so the traffic will increase.

"The majority of the vehicles are private cars and many of them fly along the lane at high speeds. We need restrictions to discourage drivers from using the road."

John Evans, head of highway management, said the council would look into any complaints of speeding on the road.

He said: "We have had people out on Glengarth Drive monitoring traffic over the course of the past week and they are not aware of any persistent speeding.

"We hope the speed restrictions on the bridge will act as a disincentive to people speeding on the surrounding roads."

Mr Evans said anyone who has experienced problems with traffic on the road should call 01204 336462.