Children 'playing chicken on motorways' during school holidays

Children are risking their lives by playing "chicken" on motorways during the school summer holidays, police say.

Officers have received an increased number of reports of pedestrians on motorways since the summer holidays begun last month, North West Motorway Police said.

Youngsters have also been spotted congregating near motorways where they drop bricks from bridges and distract drivers.

Hot spots include the East Lancashire Railway Bridge near to junctions two and three of the M66, the M60 around Audenshaw, Manchester, and between Junction 23 and 24 of the same motorway.

A tweet posted by North West Motorway Police last week read: "Police en route to a report of children playing chicken running across the motorway junctions 7-8 M53 south bound."

Police are now warning of the dangers of children and youths playing on and near the busy roads