A CAMPAIGN to keep youngsters off East Lancashire's motorways during the summer holidays has been backed by the mother of a tragic 14-year-old who died after being knocked down on the M65.

Harrison Hartley lost his life after being involved in a collision with a car near junction 10 at Gannow last March.

Now motorway police and Highways Agency officers have launched a joint awareness initiative, illustrating the stark dangers of playing in and around the county's motorways.

Particular problems have been identified with the areas surrounding junction 10, and junction four at Darwen.

Youths across Lancashire have been seen sitting on the central reservation, distracting drivers, setting grass fires around junctions and even riding bikes along the carriageway.

Hartley was struck by a vehicle while attempting to retrieve a football from the motorway and suffered serious head and internal injuries.

The teenager, who attended Hameldon Community College, later died in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury with his family at his bedside.

His mum, Donna Bennet, of Harling Street, Rosegrove, Burnley, said: "Just stay away from the motorway - for whatever reason. It was fairly accessible, where he went onto the road."

Motorway officers have already conducted a series of schools visits in the Burnley area, before the summer holidays, to emphasise the campaign, and have been pleased with the response by youngsters.

Agency traffic officers who spot vandalised or broken fences, while out on patrol, which might allow children onto carriageways and hard shoulders, are alerting engineers.

Dave Ryder, the agency's operations manager for the north west, said patrols regularly monitored known trouble spots on the motorways He added: "Patrols can clarify whether the scene is clear or if indeed there are signs of pedestrian activity.

"This is done on an ongoing basis and we work closely with the police to report any incidents so they can be tackled as swiftly as possible."

Between July and September last year more than 100 incidents involving children playing on, over or next to motorways were reported in Lancashire and police think that trend has increased in 2007.

Insp Phil Cottam, of Lancashire Police's motorway unit, said: "Our message to youngsters is that messing around on the motorway is utter madness.

"In terms of raising the alarm when children are seen playing on or around the motorway network, highways agency officers, are a useful extra resource and may well be helping us to save children's lives."