CYCLISTS are being told to get off their bikes and walk through pedestrianised areas in Burnley town centre.

The warning comes after traders in the town expressed concerns about people cycling through the centre and putting shoppers on foot in danger.

Police have spoke to culprits and asked them to walk, and have told persistent offenders that they could face a fine.

Sergeant Martin Storey – who heads up the town centre policing operation – said the move was to prevent any accidents.

“A lot of traders were concerned about the safety of shoppers,” he said, “so it was a pre-emptive decision to try and prevent accidents occurring.

“We do get people cycling through the town centre, especially at the weekends, and if it is busy it could be a problem and someone could be knocked over.

“So far we have had patrols stopping cyclists and asking them to get off and they have all complied, but we could issue a fixed penalty notice if that doesn’t happen or if people consistently flout these rules.”

The police have also teamed up with the council to erect signs in the town centre asking for cyclists to dismount.

Sgt Storey said: “We do get adults cycling in pedestrian areas, but mostly it is children who cause the problem.

“It is not so much gangs hanging about in the centre as people cycling through.

“When we’ve spoken to children and their parents and pointed out the signs we have got a good reaction.”

Police are to continue their patrols and will speak to more cyclists to ensure the town centre remains a safe area for shoppers.