RIGHT across East Lancashire many parents seem to have ignored the well publicised advance warnings from police not to buy their children mini motorbikes for Christmas.

And as a result, the force has been inundated during the festive period with protests from people put in danger by youngsters riding illegally at up to 40mph in parks and on roads and pavements.

Around 10 per cent of calls to them over the festive period have been from victims of this noisy menace.

The thoughtlessness of the children involved, and more importantly their parents, imposes a ridiculously disproportionate burden on officers.

They have quite rightly made clear that they will actively pursue those who are flouting the law in this way.

Offenders are likely to have their bikes seized (and it costs £120 to get them back) and can be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000 as well as receiving licence points and further fines for breaching the Road Traffic Act.

The only way these machines can be ridden within the law is on private land with the owner's consent.

And the sooner prosecutions bring that fact home to irresponsible parents and their offspring, the better.