Mini bike menace

The craze for riding mini-motorbikes on the roads and pavements has been sweeping the town for the last six months, with residents in Durrington, East Worthing and Broadwater bombarding police with complaints about noise and dangerous driving.

Police have now warned youngsters they will be given anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) or have their bikes, known as mini-motos, seized if they carry on.

Inspector Martin Pattenden said: "If they ride them dangerously, or in an anti-social manner, they shouldn't be surprised if the bikes are taken away by a tow truck.

"We will deal robustly with these riders, seizing their bikes and seeking Asbos against them if necessary."

Over the last few months, police have seized three mini-motorbikes and given 24 warnings in Worthing. At the end of last month, a 17-year-old boy was arrested for disqualified driving and other motoring offences after being stopped in St Botolph's Road, Worthing, on a mini-motorbike.

The bikes, which cost from 150, are designed to be driven off-road and could be potentially dangerous when ridden on the road without any protective clothing '“ a message

Inspector Pattenden is trying to get across to parents.

He said: "Parents and guardians need to address where their children are going to ride these mini-motorbikes lawfully before they buy them. These bikes are classed as vehicles and, therefore, the riders need licences, insurance and must wear protective helmets."

According to Worthing police community support officer Michelle Shepherd, the bikes have attracted a lot of negative attention from residents: "Not only are the youngsters causing a nuisance to local people by the noise they make, they are also presenting a real risk of injury to themselves and others."

Father and son, Steve and Shane Pollard, of Durrington, are fans of the bikes and have midi-motos, slightly larger versions of the bikes. Steve is encouraging his 11-year-old son and other children to ride them safely at special tracks: "They can be ridden at the mini-moto club at Brooklands go-kart track and at the Oval in Angmering."