A ‘GAME’ which sees children lying across the road and jumping up in front of cars has prompted a plea to parents.

Drivers raised the alarm through social media after they were caught up in the new craze, which has seen several incidents reported around Whitehaven.

And now Carl Walmsley, a Whitehaven Town councillor, is urging parents to speak to their children and explain the dangers of the game.

He said: “It’s really worrying to be honest, some of these children are reported to be as young as nine.

“Schools and parents should speak to them, I can’t stress it enough, it’s terrifying. We need to educate children. I

know some parents will think ‘my child isn’t that stupid,’ but when they’re doing it as part of a group, there is an element of peer pressure, kids want to show off.

“I’ve got a 10-year-old and it makes you sick to the stomach to hear these things.

“If we don’t educate every single one of our kids, someone is going to end up killed.”

One of the Whitehaven residents who raised concerns via the Facebook group Name and shame in Copeland said: “Twice this week I’ve been subjected to finding kids deliberately lying across the road at night in a line wearing dark clothes and choosing dark areas, then jumping up at the last moment and getting cheered by friends at the side of the road.

“It happened once on Woodhouse and once on High Road, Kells, which is getting busier and busier these days with cars parked both sides and cars flying up and down, kids are going to end up dead.”

Other comments also suggested children had been playing the dangerous game on Meadow Road and the Lowca to Parton Road.

Sergeant David Slattery said: “We would urge parents to make children aware of the dangers of playing on the road.

“If anybody has concerns, be they members of the public or motorists, please contact police.”