CHILDREN as young as 12 riding 40 mph motorised scooters on roads and pavements are facing motoring convictions, police warned today.

Officers are so fed up of the youngsters putting motorists and pedestrians in danger in the Roe Lee and Brownhill areas of Blackburn that they are preparing to use the maximum powers given in legislation.

PC Michael Winward, community beat manager for the areas, made the warning after two near misses in the communities in the past two weeks.

A woman walking home from school with her young children had to duck out of the way as a scooter --also known as go-peds -- headed straight for her on a pavement in Roe Lee.

And in Brownhill the driver of a four-by-four vehicle had to swerve on to the other side of the road to avoid a smash with a scooter. PC Winward also said he was astonished to hear that children had been seen riding the scooters on the Whitebirk dual carriageway, which has a 50 mph speed limit.

And across the Eastern Division, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, a sergeant from the road policing unit said the misuse of scooters was a growing problem.

Police powers allow officers to confiscate scooters -- after the user has been warned -- if they continue to misuse the vehicles.

Motorised scooters can legally only be used on private land. A full driving licence is needed to drive them on roads. PC Winward said he had been trying to avoid confiscations and criminal proceedings, but was now changing tact as his warnings had not been heeded.

He added: "I don't want to start criminalising these kids before they have had a chance or they will have motoring convictions before they have learned to drive. The only place they can take the scooters is private land.

"We are going to have a concerted effort on this now."

He explained why he thought it was a problem in Roe Lee and Brownhill: "I think that end of town has a bit more money and the parents have been spending it on scooters. These scooters can go up to 40 mph and the children on them are aged 12 to 15."

Sgt Stuart Isherwood, of the Road Policing Unit, said motorised scooters were a growing problem across the area. He added: "Until now we have advised rather than prosecuted as it has been a nuisance more than any serious incidents.

"But as they grow in popularity, we are going to have to start taking firm action and it will mean teenagers getting banned from driving before they can start learning."

Confiscated scooters are locked up for 21 days and a £125 fee is required for their release.