PARENTS living close to a notorious Ramsbottom road say they fear a child will be killed if it is not closed in wintry weather.

Rawsons Rake - known locally as ‘The Rake’ - is used by drivers as a link road between Ramsbottom and Holcombe Village, but due to its steep gradient can become particularly hazardous in icy conditions.

Permanent road signs are in place at the top and bottom of the road warning drivers that it is ‘impassable’ in ice and snow.

However, pictures shared on social media last week showed four cars having been abandoned by their drivers after crashing on the road, leaving a build-up of vehicles.

Three cars lost control on Tuesday afternoon, and another the following day, despite the road having been closed following the first set of crashes.

Although no one was injured, parents who use the Rake to walk their children to Emmanuel Holcombe CE Primary School, say it is an accident waiting to happen.

Lysha Holmes, of nearby Heapworth Avenue, uses the route to take her daughter to school. She said: “We have used that route for ten years and I worry about it.

She hates walking up that way in the winter but the alternative is a detour through the woods which is muddy and difficult under foot and impossible in the dark.”

Of the incident yesterday, she said: “The vehicles looked pretty bad. Someone had moved the sign at the top of the road near the church.

"There was an old lady driving a little car who I flagged down to say the road was closed. If she had continued she would have crashed too because it was still thick snow and ice. 

“There is no way of stopping on the Rake but if you don’t know the road you are not going to be aware of that.”

On Thursday, another parent said: “I have to walk the kids up and down twice a day.

“Even this morning drivers are still moving the signs, knocking through a barricade of five wheelie bins, arguing with and driving past residents who tell them it’s still blocked. It’s just insane. Someone is going to get killed soon and it’s likely to be children on the school run.”

In 2015, a group of residents were given permission to close the road by Bury Council, and were equipped with cones and road closure signs to do so.

However, the council say that the arrangement changed recently after residents informed them there was no one available to do it.

A spokesman for the council said: “There has long been a problem with the behaviour of some drivers along Rawsons Rake. We advise drivers not to use the road when the weather is bad, particularly as there are no pavements, which puts pedestrians at risk. 

“Unfortunately, a number of drivers simply ignore the permanent signs, and some even remove the road closure cones and drive on regardless.

"It is an offence to drive past a road closed sign as well as being irresponsible because it puts people in danger. We are looking at ways in which the dangers can be reduced and the warnings amplified; however, this will make no difference if drivers pay no heed.”