A QUIET neighbourhood and a nature reserve in Preston are being terrorised by menaces on motorbikes.

Residents in Grizedale Crescent, Ribbleton, claim the land near their homes has been overrun for years by people on scrambler motorbikes.

The riders use the land to unload their bikes off trailers and then ride to a nearby nature reserve, Pope Lane Field, which they use as a motocross track.

Now residents are calling on Preston City Council and the police to make sure the speedy vandals are stopped in their tracks. There are already concrete barriers intended to block access to the nature reserve, but the bikers are able to get past them.

According to the residents up to ten bikes descend on their neighbourhood at any time of the day, shattering the peace and endangering lives. They want the council to put up improved barriers and the police to confiscate the bikes, worth about £3,000 each.

Teresa Parkinson, 46, who has lived in Grizedale Crescent for seven years, said: "We have been trying to get the council and the police to do something for ages.

"But enough is enough someone could get seriously injured, and the amount of noise they make is unbearable sometimes, on a nice sunny day you might have to stay inside all day."

"We are prisoners in our own homes," added Aldith Quinn, 36, who has lived in the street for nine years.

Ribbleton councillor Nick Pomfret added: "All it would take is to start confiscating bikes randomly and it would scare them from coming here."

Preston Police said it is difficult to catch the motorised offenders because they are often uninsured children or teenagers and chasing them could be dangerous. Inspector Karen Simister of Preston police said: "We are aware of the problem with bikers on this estate.

"We would appeal to residents to let us know of parents they know who are letting their children do this, so we can do something about it."

Coun Veronica Afrin, executive member for regeneration, community and leisure, said: "We're working to tackle this problem and we want motorbike riders to consider the noise and safety problems they're causing and stop using public footpaths and open spaces in the area."

To report bikers on public areas in Ribbleton, call Preston police on 01772 203203 or anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.