MOTORISTS have been accused of making a mockery of a traffic calming scheme introduced in Farnworth and Kearsley.

Drivers are mounting the pavement to avoid slowing down for speed bumps along Park Street, Church Road, Presto Street and Rawson Street, it is claimed.

And angry parents say their children's lives are being put at risk.

The speed bumps were installed before Christmas at a cost of £110,000, but, the parents say, they do not prevent people from driving faster than the 20mph limit.

Mother-of-three Charlotte Hughes, aged 33, of Park Street, Farnworth, said: "Park Street has always been a rat run but now they just speed up and slow down when they get to the bump, like it's a game.

"The speed bumps haven't made any difference.

"In fact, it's just made things more dangerous because they speed up between the bumps.

"I've also seen cars driving along the pavement to avoid going over the speed bumps.

"I think the only solution would be to put in more speed bumps in between the existing ones or make the roads around here one way."

Michelle Daubney, aged 22, of Hesketh Walk, Farnworth, said: "Speed bumps are not solving the problem because they're just driving on the pavements.

"St John's Primary School, St Gregory's, Grosvenor Nursery and the Surestart Scheme are all in this area so you've got people walking their kids to and from school and a lot of pedestrians."

Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer said: "The idea was to reduce speeding in that area but if drivers are on the pavement then something needs to be done.

"I think the idea of a one way system needs to be looked at.

"It could transfer the problem to roads that are already over crowded."

Cllr James Lord said: "Anyone that mounts the pavement should get their licence taken away."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "The works carried out are a recognised method providing traffic calming and have been introduced in several other areas of the Borough. As with all traffic calming schemes, we are carrying out our usual monitoring in order to assess the effectiveness of the measures taken, both in lowering vehicle speeds and reducing accidents or casualties."