Children playing chicken on M6 Toll road

Children have been playing "chicken" on the M6 Toll road, prompting a warning from police that they are risking their lives.

Officers are worried about a recurrence of previous problems near Burntwood and Brownhills during the half-term holidays. They today issued a warning to stop children dicing with death.

The problem was first reported to police after toll road bosses received numerous reports from angry motorists using the stretch of road during the last school holiday.

The young teenagers were seen sitting on embankments before running out in front of cars, seemingly playing chicken, to reach the other side.

As schools break up for half-term next week, officers and Police Community Support Officers from Lichfield District Local Policing Team say they will be carrying out regular patrols to deter children from accessing the toll road.

Schools have also been visited so children and parents have been informed of the dangers. Lichfield Commander, Insp Jed White, said: "These kids are playing a dangerous game.

"Not only are they risking their own lives but they could also cause a really serious accident which could result in the loss of other lives as well."

By Alex Homer