CALLS are being made for city police to widen their clamp down on off road bikes, motorised scooters and motorbikes being illegally used on public footpaths and pavements.

The calls come after Gwent Police confiscated an off road bike in the Maindee area of Newport on July 9.

The seizure followed a police meeting with more than 30 residents in the nearby area of St Julians who said they were fed up of the nuisance caused by off-road bikers on their streets.

But since the confiscation, some residents are asking why their area isn't being targeted as part of the police clampdown.

One Maesglas resident, who didn't want to be named, explained that a particular hotspot was the footpath between Lighthouse Way in Duffryn to Maesglas.

"I have a young son," said the man, who has lived on Edney View for 14 months.

"But I feel like I can't use the footpath with him because you always get kids on their dirt bikes and mopeds and other smaller bikes using it.

"I like to take him to the park and things, but if I'm using the footpath they come by so fast, and the space is so narrow. It's not good.

"They're not going to have time to stop if something goes wrong.

"One moped I saw had three kids on it, all teenagers. They drove by casually, and a police car saw them and did nothing.

"It's the noise and well as the obvious danger aspect. I would guess they go along the paths at at least 20mph.

"But I've seen dirt bikes using Lighthouse Road that look like they reach at least 50mph.

"It's all over Duffryn Estate, and other places in Newport too. It's not just us who are worried about what might happen.

"I reported it to the council's Street Scene, who responded. But I feel like the issue hasn't gone away since then. They can't install kissing gates because it wouldn't let mobility scooters through, which is fair enough.

"But something needs to be done about this before an accident happens."

A spokesman for Gwent Police said support from local communities to identify those responsible was "vital".

"Tackling illegal off-roading involving motorbikes and other vehicles is a priority for Gwent Police," said the spokesman.

"It can cause vast amounts of damage to the environment and landscape across Newport and the rest of Gwent. Riders also put themselves and members of the public at significant risk of injury through their behaviour.

"This is not acceptable. We have been working really hard to educate the public about what they can do to help us, as well as educate off-road drivers about where they can and cannot ride.

"We are also stepping up enforcement across the Force area. We will continue to seize bikes and launch prosecutions whenever we get the opportunity.

We run regular operations that target hotspot areas, supported by local authorities and a range of partner agencies, but it is vital that we also have the support of local communities in order to identify those responsible for this antisocial and often criminal behaviour.

"We would urge anyone with information about illegal off-roading to contact 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."