TEENAGERS put motorists' lives at risk by firing a ball-bearing gun at cars on the M65.

The incident was just one of a catalogue recorded by police in the first few weeks of the school holidays.

And the motorway madness has come despite officers issuing a warning to every school in the area about the dangers of playing on or near the M65.

Two boys, aged 13 and 14, were arrested after ball-bearings were fired from a BB-gun at cars near junction one of the M65 at Bamber Bridge.

They have been released on police bail while an investigation is carried out.

In other incidents children have played "chicken" with moving traffic from the central reservation and others have been caught by officers form the Motorway Police Unit playing on the hard shoulder along the motorway.

And at several locations between Junction 10 at Burnley and Junction 14 at Colne youngsters have been seen jumping into the canal from the motorway.

Sergeant Bev Saycell said: "Despite our best efforts this year to stop the problem it would seem that motorway madness is continuing.

"Each summer we are called to deal with many instances where children are endangering lives so this year the Lancashire Constabulary teamed up with Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, to target children and their parents through school bulletins before the start of the summer break.

"We had hoped that lives would be saved by explaining the dangers of the motorway to children and their parents but our message has been ignored and these incidents are continuing."

Lancashire motorway police cover 258 miles of carriageway, which comprises of the M65, the M6, Junction 27-35 of the M55 and some of the M61.

Although police are warning all parents across the county that all stretches of motorway in Lancashire are "out of bounds" for playing, there are some particular hotspots where the carriageway or bridges can be more easily reached.

Parents or carers of children near to these particular areas are being urged to be "especially vigilant."

These include the M6 footbridge near Leyland; the M65 between junctions four and six at Blackburn and also between junction 10 at Burnley and junction 14 at Colne.