TEENAGER Roxanne Nicholson bunked-off school and spent the afternoon drinking vodka with her mum and step-dad.

Hours later the 14-year-old was killed dashing across a busy motorway in Bury. She was clutching a half-empty bottle of wine, an inquest heard.

Roxanne, a pupil at Broad Oak High School pupil, was said to be "tipsy and slurring her words" before dashing into the path of a car travelling at 70mph on the M66 in April.

Roxanne, known as "Rocky," had been sharing the wine with three of her friends and had then chased six boys on to the motorway because they were "calling them names".

One of the boys, a 14-year-old who cannot be named because of his age, told the inquest: "She was a bit tipsy. She had a bottle of white wine with her and she was slurring her words. She was affected by the alcohol." A girlfriend admitted that she and Roxanne had been drinking vodka during the afternoon in front of Roxanne's mother but she claimed they were not affected.

According to one of the boys, Roxanne had hurt her leg when she crossed the central safety barrier the first time and was lagging behind the others as they made their way off the carriageway.

The youngster called to Roxanne to stop when he realised a car was coming. But, he said, she may not have heard him. She stood still for a few seconds then began running.

The driver of the Subaru car which struck Roxanne, Mr James Muir from Rawtenstall, said that a figure appeared directly in front of him and he had no opportunity to swerve to avoid her.

Roxanne, who used to attend East Ward CP School, sustained multiple injuries and was dead on arrival at Bury General Hospital.

Until 12 months ago her family lived in Holly Street, Bury, before moving to Darnhill in Heywood.

Coroner Mr Williams said Roxanne may have been hidden from Mr Muir by the dazzle from the headlights of oncoming traffic.

Recording a verdict of accident death, he added his support to plans by the Highways Agency to replace wooden fencing and improve security on the embankment of the M66 where it runs through a busy housing estate.

Roxanne's mother, Angela, speaking after the inquest, said the replacement of fencing had to be a priority.

She said: "It must be made more difficult for children to get on the motorway. I don't want my Roxanne's death to be in vain."