PARENTS who buy small motor vehicles for their children to ride on Accrington's roads and parks are being warned they could have the vehicles seized.

Police say that people who use mini-bikes, go-peds, quad-bikes and other motorised vehicles are breaking the law unless they are on private land and have the relevant licence and insurance.

It comes after a number of complaints from community groups and residents' associations that youngsters are causing a nuisance and risking their lives by driving on roads without helmets.

PC Rachel Carbery, community beat manager for Peel, Huncoat and Altham, said: "It is evident from meetings with community members that there are number of complaints about the noise and nuisance being caused by people using motorbikes and quads and the dangerous driving of young people using them.

"Go-peds, mini-bikes, quads and scooters are all classed as motor vehicles and are subject to tax, insurance, MOT were relevant, driving licence and must be registered with the DVLA.

"Young people who are leaving themselves wide-open to being disqualified from driving before they are even older enough to drive by using them on the roads.

"They are not allowed to be used anywhere apart from on private land. People driving them on the road or in public parks, whether they are causing nuisance or not, can have the vehicles seized without warning and be taken to court."