Residents are being driven to their wit's end by youths riding motorbikes outside their doors for hours everyday.

The residents of Mandale Road, Horton Bank Top, Bradford, say their lives are being made a misery by youths riding the bikes on recreation ground which backs on to their homes.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "They're riding their bikes there all day, everyday, and it's just horrendous. They start riding at 10am and go on until midnight sometimes. I can't take it any more - my nerves are absolutely shattered.

"It happens every year in school holidays but this year it just seems to be getting worse - they've been at it non-stop since March.

"The residents are totally fed up with it. It's supposed to be a recreation ground for everybody but we can't go near it. We can't even open our windows because it's just so noisy. I don't want to come home anymore. I dread the noise.

"If you go out and try to talk to them you get threatened or an ear-full of abuse.

"We've called the police but nothing ever happens. They're just not interested."

The road's residents have now sent a 30-name petition to Bradford Council calling for action.

But Sergeant Keith Cluderay, of Odsal Police, said it was impossible for police to start chasing youths on motorbikes.

He said: "You can't chase motorcycles - it's fraught with danger not only for the motorcyclist but also for the public.

"We want to know from people in the area who these youths are. When we know who they are we will follow it up and deal with it.

"At this time of year we do have lots of complaints with people illegally riding motorcycles on private or council land. We will deal with it in an appropriate manner."

Councillor Andrew Smith (Cons, Queensbury) said it was time for the police, council and park rangers to clamp down on the bikers.

He said: "It's about time the police took responsibility for this problem. It's within the remit of their job to find out who these kids are and not up to members of the public.

"I want to see these bikes confiscated when they're caught."

"Kids riding motorbikes is a problem throughout Bradford. But I think it is very hard for the police to catch them because as soon as the police arrive they race off down snickets.

"The council have actually closed the entrance for vehicles into the land but they still had to leave a gap for pedestrians to get through and the bikes just slip through that.

"It is not just the kids who are riding the bikes but their parents who let them do it who are being irresponsible."