A CYCLIST was left frightened and shaken after being confronted by two quad bikes hurtling towards her on a byway at Somerford Common, near Malmesbury.

Margo Giles of The Bothy, Minety, said she had to jump out of the way when the two large red quad bikes sped down a hill at 7pm on July 2 at a speed which she thought was at least 40mph.

Ms Giles said the bikers would not have been able to see either her or her dog through the dark tinted visors they were wearing because of the fading light, and because she was in a tunnel formed by trees.

She said: "I was scared. There was a roar like an approaching express train and the two large quad bikes came hurtling down the hill towards me one behind the other.

"My dog and I escaped into the trees and they flew past kicking up clouds of dust."

"I walk with my neighbour's eight-year-old son sometimes and if he had been ahead of me he would have been hit."

She said the bikes were bigger and more powerful than the normal quad bikes used by farmers and the riders wore bright red co-ordinated leathers.

"I hoped they would come back because I was angry and intended to shove my bike in their path," she said.

Ms Giles said motorcyclists, off-roaders and cyclists had used the byway in the past without any problems.

PC Phil Connor, of Malmesbury police, said: "I think byways are often treated as if they are not part of the road but they are. People who drive dangerously or carelessly on them will be prosecuted. I urge anyone who sees anybody driving in a dangerous manner to phone the police."

Alan Brinkworth, the owner of West Barn Farm Quad bikes, in Castle Combe, said it was ignorance that caused quad bike drivers to act dangerously.

He said: "We provide a safe environment and teach people to be considerate to other road users."