STAR readers have been reacting to shocking footage of 25 scrambler bikes on the St Helens Linkway at the weekend.

A video was captured by Lesley Fewtrell, from Clock Face, who was stunned at the dangerous antics of the riders, which included scramblers heading on to the wrong side of road and doing wheelies.

Some of those on the scramblers were not wearing any helmets.

Lelsey posted the videos to social media, sparking a large reaction from residents.

After the Star reported on the incident, readers have been responding to the footage.

Craig Hudson wrote on Facebook: "As a biker this gets me so angry. They only do this sort of thing because they can. Banning them won't do anything because they won't have a licence to start off with.

"People know who they are, get a back bone and tell the authorities".

Carl Johnson said: "It’s hard to criticise the police when they're stretched to breaking point by government cuts. Lack of manpower and these know it so abuse it".

Tony Kearns wrote: "It’s not just lack of police, it’s the paltry sentencing. Even if the cops catch them they don’t get properly punished".

Helen Crossley added; "It's getting worse I can genuinely tell the area is going downhill because a minority think they can do exactly what they want outside of the law".

Police confirmed officers received reports of around 20 off-road motorbikes being driven in an anti-social manner on Saturday.

Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke said: “We know how frustrating it is for other road users to see scrambler bike riders riding on pavements, through red lights and creating a general nuisance.

“We know members of the community may on occasion see police officers or vehicles in the area of such incidents and wonder why we don't always pursue them.

“I would like to reassure people who see and report these incidents that action can and is being taken on a regular basis.

“We have multiple tactics that we can use to identify and prosecute people for the illegal use of off-road bikes.

"We are supported in this by the National Police Air Service helicopter, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and housing authorities. We all share a commitment to eradicating this problem and work closely together on a daily basis, sharing information about issues affecting people in our communities.

"We always encourage people to tell us who is using these bikes and where they are stored, as seizing the bikes where they are stored is the easiest and safest way to remove bikes from our streets. I want to thank those members of the community who have come forward with information about these incidents, and we will be carrying out further enquiries to identify those responsible.”