FEARS have been raised that somebody could end up seriously injured or killed due to youngsters riding mopeds at Canvey’s skate park.

The island has notoriously been a hotspot for youngsters riding off-road scramble bikes, particularly at the seafront and at Canvey Heights.

However, police have been alerted to antisocial behaviour at the Waterside Farm skate park, in Somnes Avenue.

Officers have now increased patrols at the site and are speaking to staff at petrol garages across the island to ensure that they do not sell fuel to anyone riding off-road bikes.

Insp Fergus Caulfield, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, said: “There has been reports of people riding mopeds at Waterside Farm and going into the skate park.

“There are also issues surrounding that area because kids hang out there.

“There is a youth shelter and a clubhouse.

“We have been doing some patrols there and I have been speaking to staff at the leisure centre to try and identify these bikers.

“They are just generally being a nuisance and riding towards the ramps, which is very dangerous.

“We have got young kids who play there and we want to nip this is in the bud before somebody is seriously injured.”

Canvey councillor Ray Howard has urged police to crush the motorbikes and scramblers once they catch anyone riding them.

He said: “They have been causing a nuisance at Canvey Wick, Canvey Heights and I am very disappointed to hear that this is happening at the skate park as well - it is so dangerous.

“People going onto the skate park with skate boards and push bikes to enjoy themselves is OK, but going on there with quad bikes and motorbikes is unacceptable.

“It is frightening and they are becoming a menace.

“They could easily hit somebody. Somebody could end up killed.

“It is an accident waiting to happen.

“I have requested for the police to catch one of them and crush the bike which will act as a deterrent.”

Anyone with information about youths causing a nuisance on mopeds and scramblers can call Essex Police on 101 or crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively, they can visit crimestoppers-uk.org to fill out an online form.