A TOWN mayor is calling on police chiefs to do more to tackle the scourge of mini-moto riders.

Cllr Bernard McCartin, the first citizen of Horwich, says the lives of his residents are being made a misery.

Youths regularly ride the bikes in the Stocks Park Drive area and Old Station Park at various times of the day.

But it is illegal to use them in any public place including roads, parks and open spaces.

Cllr McCartin said: "There is a number for Farnworth residents to tip off the police about bikes, and I think the same should be done for Horwich because it is a problem and the police should respond more quickly.

"They seem to be driving around all the time and weekends are a nightmare and I feel really sorry for the residents."

Accidents involving mini motos have led to one person dying, on average, every month for the last 18 months. More than 40 per cent of all anti-social behaviour complaints in the UK are about mini-motorbikes.

One resident, who was too frightened to be named, said: "Everyone on the estate is worried about the problems with mini-motos.

"They are so dangerous and what happens if they hit someone? Some thing needs to be done about this before more people are killed.

"I have seen them driving around after school at about 4 o'clock and some of them don't have crash helmets on. It's just so dangerous."

Andy Vernon, community beat manager in Horwich, said: "There have been reports of mini-motos and mopeds. If anyone has information if they contact us we will take appropriate action.

"We do take this issue seriously but we have to prioritise and we will investigate at the first opportunity.

"If we catch people breaking the law we can seize the bikes."

A move to register all mini-motos and off-road bikes with the DVLA has passed its second reading in Parliament and will now enter the committee stage.