TEENAGE drivers are putting lives at risk and filming themselves driving at breakneck speeds along an East Lancashire lane, it was revealed today.

Police are investigating claims that young drivers are racing up Hollowhead Lane, Wilpshire, Blackburn, so their cars leave the road at the brow, and jump a short distance.

Residents today said that youngsters even use their mobile phone cameras to film the stunts, and the practice was slammed today.

Now police officers are to increase patrols of the road where the speed limit increases from 30 to 60 mph, near the golf course.

John Milligan, 42, a financial director, of Hollowhead Lane, said: "It's becoming a joke, someone will have to die before anything happens on this road.

"They stop in my drive and drop someone off who takes photographs of how high they go in the air.

"If someone was to do that as I was coming out of my drive I would be dead."

A second resident, who asked not to be named, claimed cars were approaching 60 or 70 miles an hour as they left the 30mph limit in Wilpshire and raced along Hollowhead Lane, a narrow lane with several blind bends and a hill.

The 45-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: "They are there with their camera phones and take a photograph.

"Somebody walking along here could be killed. With the amount of people who walk along here it is frightening."

Sergeant Keith Jackson, of the road policing unit, said the practice had been brought to the attention of the police by residents when they attended a crash on Friday afternoon.

A car travelling along Hollowhead Lane had left the road and destroyed part of a stone wall outside a house.

Police said speed was an issue in the investigation but there was no suggestion the occupants of the car, two of whom were taken to hospital after the incident, were taking part in a dangerous stunt.

The driver of that car, Oliver Beadle, 19, of Danvers Street, Rishton, suffered abdominal and chest injuries and is due to be questioned by police.

A passenger, Martin Isherwood, 17, of Ailsa Road, Blackburn, was due to undergo an operation on a broken right femur. Two other passengers, one of whom has been interviewed by police, were treated for minor injuries, .

Sgt Jackson said: "Using mobile phones to video speeding cars is an extremely dangerous act that we would condemn whole heartedly and we will target people who are actually taking part. We became aware of it when we attended the accident.

"The residents started telling us about it.

"By the marks on the road it is obvious it has been occurring on several occasions so we are going to make sure investigations continue into it.

"When we attended the incident, residents informed us of occurrences of cars approaching the brow of the hill at speed intending to make the cars take off.

"They have provided us with information about some of these cars and we will be investigating these incidents.

"We will also be increasing patrols in the area to provide advice to drivers and enforcement where necessary.

"Over the last 12 months throughout Lancashire we have noticed an increase in collisions, particularly amongst 17 to 24 year olds.

"We want to get the message across to young drivers of the consequences of this type of driving and the affect it has on families as a result."

Anyone with information should call 01254 51212.