DARE-devil youngsters are risking their lives by taking a "suicidal" short-cut across a busy motorway.

Police have issued an urgent plea to parents and children after receiving two reports of youngsters seen running across the new M65 at Knuzden.

Inspector John Spencer described their behaviour as "fool-hardy bravado" and appealed to parents to warn children about the dangers.

He said he was shocked to learn from Hyndburn councillor Bill Goldsmith that he had seen a group of youngsters, aged between seven and 15, running across the motorway at dusk to reach a wood on the other side.

Insp Spencer added: "They were seen close to the Haslingden Road bridge, which crosses the M65 extension near Knuzden.

"The children had run down the embankment and dived across in front of several vehicles, who were forced to beep their horns to alert them."

Coun Goldsmith said: "It was horrendous to see. There are no lights on this stretch of motorway and I could only just make out the figures crossing the carriageway. I spoke to them afterwards and I was shocked to hear that they had done it before."

Just days later, a motorist called the police to say he had seen another gang running across the same stretch of carriageway.

Insp Spencer said: "They were playing chicken and daring each other to cross. But what they don't realise - and what their parents should tell them - is that a car travelling between 70 and 90mph would hit a child if the youngster started to cross the carriageway when the motorist was around 400 metres away.

"These children are dicing with death."

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