Residents living close to playing fields in Blackburn used by motorcycles and quad bikes have spoken out over the ‘daily damage’ being done by riders.

There were also concerns that despite complaints against the ‘nuisance’ riders, nothing had been done by local authorities.

However the council has said it is "very aware" of the issue which plagues the entire borough and is working with police to clamp down on anti-social bikes.

Homeowners bordering Everton playing fields say ‘gangs’ of off-road motorcyclists and quad bikers were using the patch on an almost daily basis.

Access to the area can only gained by using public roads from Manxman Road and then on to Lindisfarne Avenue, as well as via Roman Road along a path guarded by metal bollards.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said it had been alerted to the problem and is "working with the police to put a stop to it".

One resident who lives by the playing fields, and asked not to be named, said: “Complaints have been made in the past but we have not once been made aware of any kind of action by them towards what we have complained about.

"This makes me think that nothing has been done in response to the said complaints.

“If you ring the police and eventually get through to someone to take your complaint such as I have, I have had a negative response in the manner of it is not a police matter. 

“Residents bordering onto this playing field are sick to the back teeth of this unlawful behaviour from the people responsible and the apparent serious lack of action from the police. 

“Besides the noise issue from these motors there is the aspect that they are not road legal because of their condition besides needing the requirements of tax, insurance and MOT. 

“A lot of the users do not look old enough to apply for a driving licence, although there are quite a number of adult looking users."

Residents said the lack of action meant the perpetrators were able to continue to cause a nuisance.

The resident added: “This kind of behaviour by the offenders has been allowed to manifest itself over the years and has now reached pandemic proportions.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Tony Watson, Head of Environment at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We are very aware of this issue not only on these fields but in other areas across the borough as well.

"Our Environment Department, along with our Community Safety department and local Councillors, are working closely with the police to try and tackle the issues regarding the noise and the motorbike and quad bike problem.

“Lancashire Police have recently launched an initiative called Operation Propulsion to combat the issue of illegal and nuisance use of off-road motorbikes, mopeds, scrambler bikes, quad bikes and e-scooters in our area.

"As part of this operation they will be covertly patrolling hotspot areas during known times of increased activity.

“To help the police identify culprits, please let them have any details of anyone you think is involved in such anti-social activities.

"Everybody involved in this work would welcome information and details around incidents and we would urge members of the public to continue to report these incidents via the police. 

“These are not easy nuisance issues to remedy but we are aware and we are working hard to tackle this and put a stop to it.”