THESE are the faces of identical twins Tim and Tom Rotheram.

The 16-year-olds, from Westhoughton, were involved in an horrific crash when the car they were travelling in spun out of control and hit a lamp-post.

Tim, the front seat passenger, escaped with whiplash and minor cuts and bruises because he was wearing a seatbelt.

But twin Tom, who was sitting in the back of the car, had not belted up.

And the scars he will live with for the rest of his life will always be a reminder of that mistake.

Tom was thrown through the windscreen when the Mitsubishi Colt hit the lamp-post in Manchester Road, Westhoughton last Friday. His throat was slashed by shattered glass which narrowly missed his jugular vein.

Both brothers know how lucky they are to be alive and hope their experiences will act as a warning to others to belt up and be safe.

Tim, aged 16, said: "We'd just gone out to pick up some pizza and we were about five minutes away from home.

"My girlfriend was driving and Tom, his girlfriend and another mate were in the back.

"The next thing I knew, we'd hit this lamp-post.

"I can remember seeing Tom go through the windscreen, roll over the bonnet and hit the pavement.

"His girlfriend wasn't wearing a seatbelt either and she went through the windscreen as well.

"I climbed out through the windscreen and I can remember pulling my girlfriend out and opening the door for my other friend. Everyone was covered in blood and I was scared the car was going to blow up."

Witnesses say the car was not being driven with excessive speed and the 18-year-old driver has not been interviewed by the police.

The five youngsters were taken by ambulance to the Royal Bolton Hospital for treatment.

The twins' girlfriends and friend received treatment for minor injuries.

Tom needed emergency surgery to stitch up his throat and facial injuries and left hospital two days later.

Both brothers, who are A-level students at Westhoughton College, have suffered flashbacks and nightmares since the crash.

Tom, the elder twin by 40 minutes, said: "I didn't put my seatbelt on because it was only a short journey home and I thought I would be OK because there were three of us on the back seat and we were squashed in. I know it was stupid.

"I can't remember going through the windscreen but apparently I was conscious when I was on the pavement."

Their parents Alison and David Rotheram, of Cow Lees, were on holiday when the crash happened and had to be told the news over the phone by their eldest son Mark.

Mrs Rotheram, aged 51, a physiotherapist, said: "We've always told them to wear a seatbelt. When I heard Tom had gone through the windscreen I felt sick and when I first saw them I just crumpled. I think sometimes at that age you think you're invincible but this isn't a lesson they're going to forget in a hurry and they want others to learn by what happened to them."

According to the Department for Transport, 10 per cent of drivers and front seat passengers, and 40 per cent of rear seat adults do not wear seatbelts. Ten per cent of rear seat passengers do not use seatbelts or child restraints and around 10 front seat users are killed every year by unbelted rear seat passengers.

A spokesman for the Department's Road Safety Campaign said: "Wearing a seat belt in the front seat saves more than 2,200 lives every year.

"Everyone knows they should wear a seat belt in the front seat, but many people still don't realise how dangerous it is not to wear a seat belt in the back.

"In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.

"This could result in death or serious injury to you and people sitting in the front seat.

"Any compensation for injury following an accident may be reduced if you were not wearing a seat belt.

"By law, you must wear a seat belt if one is fitted. There are very few exceptions to this and the driver is liable to prosecution if a child under 14 years does not wear a seat belt."

Seatbelts: The Law

Failure to wear a seatbelt carries a fine of up to £500 but no points are endorsed on the licence. A fixed penalty notice will usually be issued, allowing the option of paying a £30 fine.

Drivers must wear seatbelts as should passengers over the age of 14, as must children aged 12 or 13 who are more than 5ft in height.

Children under the age of three must wear an appropriate child restraint in the front and rear seats.

And children aged between three and 11 who are 5ft in height or less also have to wear appropriate child restraints if available - otherwise an adult belt must be worn.

There are some exceptions, including drivers of vehicles constructed or adapted for carrying goods who are not driving for more than 50 metres. Seatbelts do not need to be worn when reversing either.