Quad bikes in city 'an accident waiting to happen'

A Peterborough councillor said people had repeatedly complained about children riding quad bikes in the street

Young people riding quad bikes through the streets was "an accident waiting to happen", a councillor warned.

Residents in the Gunthorpe and Werrington areas of Peterborough have reported children as young as 14 riding on pavements and without helmets, local Conservative councillor Bryan Tyler said.

"They have no care for anybody. They are very loud and dangerous and offensive to people," said Mr Tyler, who serves on Peterborough City Council.

Cambridgeshire Police said it took incidents of anti-social behaviour "very seriously" and urged people to continue reporting them.

Mr Tyler said the use of quad bikes had been an issue in the area for more than a year and was getting worse.

Cambridgeshire Police said residents in Gunthorpe and Werrington should continue to report anti-social behaviour to them

"We have elderly people in the ward around Elon Walk and young families with babies who are all frustrated with the noise and anti-social behaviour every single day," he said.

"They have been driving on playing fields, including the Campbell Drive field, ripping out pitches and damaging property.

"It’s not 'if' but 'when' someone will get hurt, because I know it’s an accident waiting to happen."

Mr Tyler added many residents were too scared to report incidents to police, fearing repercussions from the people responsible.

He said he was working with partners, including Cambridgeshire Police and the city council, to find a solution.