Minimoto riders are harassing young mothers by driving up to them and swerving away at the last moment. The youngsters, who drive the bikes on the fields and pathways next to Radburn School, Letchworth GC, have also been scaring pensioners who use the foo

Minimoto riders are harassing young mothers by driving up to them and swerving away at the last moment.

The youngsters, who drive the bikes on the fields and pathways next to Radburn School, Letchworth GC, have also been scaring pensioners who use the footpaths.

A number of people have complained to Herts police and Jack-mans Improvement Group, with the group's chairman, Richard Harman, voicing concerns that an accident could happen at any time.

He said: "They are dangerous. Young mothers with babies, and elderly people, use the paths and all it takes is for a young mother with a pram to walk past and someone to lose control of a bike and there could be an accident.

"Some pensioners have mentioned that they are now put off walking the path."

Group secretary John Dettmar said: "Apart from the fact that motorbikes should not be on a footpath, it is the sheer speed that they drive and the delight they take in scaring walkers that is so wrong."

Herts police have said that any victims or witnesses of these incidents should call them straight away.

A Herts police spokesman said: "We have had reports of minimotos on the Jackmans estate.

"Ward constable Mandy Dickerson is currently looking at CCTV footage. If members of the community are aware of any offenders, or are approached by anyone on a minimoto, they should contact the police as soon as possible."

Mr Harman agreed, saying: "People should get the incident logged with the police as the more people who do that, the better the chance of getting something done. The kids drive at different times so it's hard to keep track of them.

"It's been a problem for a long time. Last year people mentioned it and I don't know how many complaints have been made.