A GANG of youths, some as young as 13, are running amok on a Westbury housing estate.

Police are appealing for people living on the Oldfield Park estate to help them trace the youngsters, who ride around on motorbikes but disappear when the police turn up.

Sgt Jim Stannard of Westbury Police, said: "Youths are using motorcycles at the weekend over rough ground, causing a nuisance to other residents.

"It was a problem last year and it is going to cause a problem in the future now the weather is getting better."

As well as the noise created by the gang and the danger they could pose to pedestrians, some are also damaging property or committing petty theft.

Tony Mitchell, from Oldfield Park Residents Association (OPRA), said the main worry is the threat to safety posed by the motorbikes.

He said: "They go on the green area at the back of Elm Grove, which is a recreation area.

"They come haring down the grass and swing around right by the children's play area it only takes one child to be in the wrong place."

Mr Mitchell said it is not unusual to see three or four youngsters on the same bike, riding around without crash helmets.

"I don't think their parents realise the danger their children are in.

"We worry about the youngsters because they see older children doing this and they try and copy them."

Now OPRA plans to work with the police and other agencies, including West Wiltshire Housing Society, to try and tackle the problem.

Ellie Phillips, from the housing society, said: "We are working closely with the police and we are trying to do all we can to solve the problem and to identify those involved."

Sgt Stannard said: "Residents know who the offenders are and what we are trying to do is to get them involved in solving the problem."

"By the time we get down there the offenders are gone and we want the community to get involved and provide us with information, for example recording the times they have problems, and the names of anyone they see if they know them."