A heavily pregnant woman with a toddler and an elderly couple were almost hit by an off-road biker in East Lothian this week.
Police are launching a major crackdown on the use of off-road bikes after receiving numerous complaints from members of the public about the issue.
Officers say these are being used illegally on land throughout the East Lothian area, but in particularly on land adjacent to Clark Avenue in Musselburgh, around the former Cockenzie Power Station, at Ormiston Bing and along the Pencaitland Railway Walk.
On Wednesday of this week a biker narrowly missed numerous pedestrians – including a pregnant woman and elderly couple – on the walkway between Pencaitland and Ormiston. Police say enquiries are ongoing in a bid to trace the person responsible.
East Lothian police add: "This activity is taking place without the permission of landowners, causing damage to the land and incidents of anti-social behaviour."
In the coming weeks officers will undertake a number of "days of action" where anybody found to be guilty of these crimes will be charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Police say: "If the public have access to walk or cycle in the area, it is likely along with permission to use an off-road vehicle you will require motor insurance covering third party risks as outlined in the Road Traffic Act 1988.
"Police have engaged with registered keepers of vehicles attending the area but we continue to see motorcyclists attending the area causing damage."
