TWO young drivers who raced each other on a notorious stretch of road were told by a judge that they could both have died.

A court heard how witnesses described the pair as driving likem maniacs saying it was a miracle no-one was killed.

It involved overtaking on double white lines and bends and while approaching the brow of a hill. One vehicle ended up crashing, resulting in a passenger sustaining a fractured wrist.

Appearing for sentence at Preston Crown Court were Timothy Horrocks, 21, of Sandybeds Close, Baxenden, Accrington, and 19-year-old Sam Horsfall of Lumbutts Road, Todmorden.

Both had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

The offence was committed last September.

Mr Richard Orme, prosecuting, said the two vehicles were a Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio . There were three independent witnesses and it happened on the A682, a notoriously dangerous stretch of road.

Mr Paul Hague, for Horrocks, said he was a hard working young man from a thoroughly respectable family. His parents were very concerned and he was aware of their feelings.

Mr John Edwards, for Horsfall, who had a conviction for careless driving, said his conduct had not caused the accident.

"The driving was terrible, it was racing, it was erratic, it was frankly all over the road and there were some very dangerous manoeuvres," he said.

Horsfall was given thirty nine weeks custody, suspended for two years, with an order to do two hundred hours unpaid work. He was banned from driving for two years, with an extended driving test to follow and told to pay £135 prosecution costs.

He will be subject to a four months long night time curfew from 9pm-5am.

Horrocks was given fifty one weeks prison, suspended for two years, with an order to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. He was banned from driving for five years, with an extended retest and must pay £135 costs.

He will also be subject to a four months long night time curfew from 9pm-6am.