Community leaders claim motorbike maniacs and car thieves are turning Bradford Moor into a racetrack.

Residents have started a petition calling on the Council and police to take action on the problem which they believe could result in a death.

About 30 residents attended the meeting held at the Byron Street mosque yesterday protesting at youngsters racing around the streets at high speeds in stolen vehicles.

Councillor Mukhtar Ali (Lab, Bowling) called for traffic calming measures to be introduced to Byron Street, Boldshay Street and Tennyson Place and a general clamp down on speeding.

He said: "Do we need to have a death before the Council wakes up and listens to the community? If they don't listen it will be too late. There are a lot of children and elderly people in this area."

He plans to present the petition to the next meeting of Bradford Council.

Almar Din, whose son suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a stolen motorbike, said he had previously chased away bikers from the area fearing one of his children would be hit.

He said: "They tear around with no concern for others. You have no chance if one of these bikes is coming at you."

Abdul Hussain, of Byron Street, said he had to jump for his life when a joyrider sped towards him outside his home.

He said: "I was terrified, I thought he was going to hit me.

"He missed by inches."

A £65,000 fence has been constructed around Byron Street Primary School after a motorcyclist ran over the feet of two pupils.

Raja Ifzal, assistant area co-ordinator for Bradford Council, believes the fence has driven bikers from the school fields and on to the nearby streets.

"This has been a problem for some time," he said.

At the meeting Sergeant Keith Cluderay, traffic manager for Bradford South police, said he sympathised with residents' concerns.

He called upon the community to identify the culprits to the police.