YOUNG off-road bikers are dicing with death and parents are doing nothing to stop them, claims a police chief.

Chief Inspector Ken Dickson, second-in-command of Leigh Police sub-division, wants a clampdown on unofficial motorbike scrambling and fears a fatality if nothing is done.

His call came as two teenage riders were rushed to hospital on Sunday, following an accident on public woodland in Tyldesley.

Leon Partington, 16, of Lancaster Avenue, Shakerley, and Christopher Bradley, 15, of Bag Lane, Atherton, were thrown off their bikes on a pathway following the former Tyldesley-Wigan railway line, near Fred Longworth High School.

An ambulance rushed to the scene but because the accident was off-road, crews spent about 10 minutes trying to find the injured pair.

Leon injured his right arm and Christopher fractured his left wrist in the accident.

Chief Insp Dickson said: "We have a real problem with off-road bikers, many of whom like to race around fields in the area.

"Fatalities are not uncommon with this kind of activity and parents need to keep an eye on their children." Police have still not been able to discover the cause of this accident.

Inspector Bill Dyke said: "It's illegal to ride an off-road bike on any land which isn't private. I want to make it clear that off-road riding is not only dangerous, but is an annoyance to other people.

"The problem can get much worse in the summer and we do not want a death on our hands. Most riders are not even insured, which causes immense headaches following an accident."

Last year, a Hindley Green man was seriously injured in a head-on collision on Plank Lane rucks at Leigh, and several years ago, a teenager was killed at Howe Bridge.