TAKING short cuts could be a quick route to an early grave.

As part of a life-saving initiative, police want parents and children to be aware of the lethal dangers of crossing motorways on foot.

The bid, launched by officers from Greater Manchester Police's motorway unit, based at Birch Service Station on the M62, is aimed at reducing the number of deaths on the region's motorways.

This year alone, two pedestrians have been killed on Greater Manchester's motorway network.

One of the particular causes for concern is the M66 at Bury, which is regularly used by youngsters trying to the get to the Route 66 entertainment centre at Pilsworth.

The sections at Heap Bridge, Fairfield and Chesham are also used as a short cuts by teenagers, with fatal results.

In the past two years, two people have been killed on the M66 at Bury.

Sergeant Chris Nealand, of Greater Manchester's Motorway Unit, said: "Motorways are neither playgrounds or short cuts. They are dangerous places and with cars travelling up to 70mph, there is little chance of a pedestrian surviving a collision with a vehicle.

"Not only are pedestrians putting their own lives at risk, but also those of the motorway users who do not expect to see people running across their path. Drivers are forced to brake hard and swerve, which can cause horrific multi-car pile-ups.

"Also, it is very hard to judge how fast an oncoming car is travelling. It may seem a long way off but it could only take a few seconds to reach a pedestrian."

Since the launch of the crackdown and over one recent weekend, a total of 17 people were picked up by the police for jay walking on the county's motorways. The majority were children, although a number were adults who, the police say, should know better.

Sgt Nealand said: "Using motorways as footpaths can and will prove costly, whether to the actual person or, if it is a child, their parents. Offenders will be given fixed penalty notices of £100 or they could even face the courts."

With school holidays approaching, police are issuing the following warnings:

Do not use motorways as short cuts.

Use subways or pedestrian bridges.

Parents should warn their children of the dangers, and cost, of trespassing on motorways.