YOUNG pranksters are putting lives at risk by using toy water pistols to squirt or throw water at motorists during the current heatwave.

Police in Burnley say motorists are being targeted by gangs of yobs who find it amusing to attack people while driving.

Today officers urged youngsters to heed warnings in a bid to prevent a serious road accident from happening.

They fear shocked motorists could cause a serious accident after getting a sudden drenching.

And civic leaders today branded the yobs "mindless" and encouraged people with information about any of the offences to contact police.

In the latest incident, a woman was driving along Dane Street in Burnley on Wednesday at 4.30pm when pranksters threw a bucket of water through the driver's side window.

Police said the shock caused her to swerve and narrowly avoided causing an accident.

Sergeant Vicki Haworth, of Burnley Police, said: "We have had a number of incidents where groups of youths are driving around in vehicles and squirting people with water pistols and powerful water soakers.

"That, in itself, although annoying, wouldn't necessarily cause anyone any harm.

"It's not only inconsiderate doing it to people who are driving cars with their windows down but it's also very dangerous because people have had to swerve and we are lucky that there hasn't been any serious collisions or anyone knocked over because of this foolish behaviour.

"People think it's amusing but the reality of it is that it is extremely dangerous and we want people to consider other road users' safety because this is happening all over Burnley."