A SPECIAL "Don't drink and drive" message is to be issued to motorists clogging up Simister village with their cars.

Residents claim that customers of the Farmer's Arms pub are causing havoc and congestion by parking their cars outside their homes and in the bus terminus outside Parrenthorn High School.

As a result members of Prestwich area board agreed to look at the possibility of issuing leaflets to motorists encouraging them to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead.

A representative of Simister Village Association said: "On Fridays and Saturdays car owners are going into the Farmer's Arms and parking in the bus terminus, causing problems for the bus drivers.

The villager said some motorists leave their car parked in the village overnight and residents were forced to park half a mile away.

Ken Asquith, of Bury's traffic management department, said parking restrictions could be introduced to the bus terminus but that would not stop people parking outside villagers' homes.

Coun Anne Garner said: "Why not put leaflets on the cars together with bus timetables to encourage drivers to use the bus in future?"

The idea was welcomed by the area board but the landlord of the pub, Mr Dave Henderson, said it would not work as the bus service was unreliable.