TWO people have been given suspended prison sentences after one of them crashed while he was racing the other.

Jack Hall, 23, of Sandby Close, Bacup, was driving his white VW Golf from the direction of Rochdale towards Bacup when he lost control on a bend and crashed into two parked cars, a Vauxhall Astra and a Land Rover Freelander, causing extensive damage.

Hall initially told police that he had swerved to avoid a badger but then admitted he had been racing with a friend, Jordan Dean, who was in his Audi A4, when the incident happened at 9.45pm on Saturday, August 23, last year.

Numerous witnesses confirmed seeing both vehicles travelling at speed along the main road between Whitworth and Bacup involving a number of overtakes and at one point driving on the wrong side of the road on a pedestrian crossing.

Hall and Dean, 24, of Beech Close, Whitworth were both reported for dangerous driving.

Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months at Burnley Crown Court.

They were also disqualified from driving for two years, told to do 180 hours of community service and pay £500 in court costs.

Sergeant Claire Pearson, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “The driving of both young men demonstrates very dangerous behaviour and it was fortunate that no one was injured as a result of the collision.

“On another day, with such driving, someone could have been killed.

“I’d like to thank the witnesses who assisted us with our investigation.”