PARENTS who buy dangerous and illegal off-road motorbikes for their children as Christmas presents will face prosecution — and the bikes will be crushed, police have warned.

To underline the message, police yesterday destroyed seven bikes that had been seized.

A large mechanical digger was used to smash the bikes into pieces and convert them into scrap.

Ch Insp John Buttress said police were encouraging parents not to buy off-road bikes for three reasons.

He said they were dangerous when used without proper supervision, were a major source of antisocial behaviour and it was illegal to ride them on footpaths or private land without permission.

And road riders who did not have a driving licence, insurance and road taxwere breaking the law. Ch Insp Buttress said: “The only circumstances that police would recommend they be used is in a supervised environment, on a track run professionally, with the appropriate safety and first aid facilities.

“The police view it as irresponsible to consider purchasing one of these for Christmas. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear.

There is a zero tolerance approach and the bikes will be confiscated and crushed, and individuals and sometimes parents will face prosecution.”

Police are increasing patrols in “hotspot”

areas and visiting schools to warn of the law and dangers as part of their crack down on illegal bike riders.