Two Birmingham teenagers have been ordered to carry out community work after a drunken prank left motorists swerving to avoid cones they had thrown on to a motorway.

Jason Connop ( 19), of Gravelly Hill North, and Paul Dixie (18), of Jarvis Road, both Erdington, who both admitted causing danger to road users, were ordered to perform 80 hours community punishment.

They were also put on a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and each ordered to pay £35 costs by Birmingham magistrates.

Maria James, prosecuting, said the defendants were spotted walking along the A38 Aston Expressway towards Erdington on July 19 this year at 1.30am.

At a point where the motorway splits, they picked up four cones and threw two on to the carriageway. The incident was captured on CCTV and motorists were forced to brake.