ANYONE in East Lancashire who lives near or regularly uses an area of public open space will be familiar with the problem.

Youths, usually in their early teens, roar around on noisy off-road motorbikes churning up paths, football pitches and hillsides without any consideration for those enjoying such places for the purposes they are intended for.

Today we see that as well as disturbing people, flora and animals - domestic and wild - one lady quietly walking her dog has been knocked down and injured at Blackburn's Pleasington Playing Fields.

As police point out, complaints will escalate across East Lancashire as the weather improves and there is no public land in the division where such bikes can legally be ridden although they are, week in and week out.

Also since the bikes are invariably not licensed for the roads they are also almost certain to be untaxed and, more importantly, uninsured.

In such circumstances the obvious question is how these bikes get to our public open spaces in the first place.

Some are pushed or even illegally ridden while others are driven there by parents in vans.

Police and council officials should have the authority to seize bikes being used in this way and fine the adults or juveniles involved in their use.

Only tough action will bring peace back to our parks.