Residents in a quiet woodland housing estate on the Mansfield and Ashfield border have hit out over the 'terror' of off-road bikers causing chaos in the woods.
The problem has got so bad, they say, that some are afraid to enter the woodland alone, while reports have been made of a horse rider being knocked off and breaking her arm.
The residents live in a small, isolated estate near Harlow Wood, off the A60, which backs onto a large forest used by dog walkers, pedestrians and horses.
However, for a number of years they say off-road bikers have been causing "serious problems", speeding up and down paths and paying no attention to people nearby.
But the neighbours have began taking action into their own hands, arranging a meeting with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson and a policing inspector to get the issue dealt with.
One resident who has been affected is Catherine Stevens, 73, who lives in a property which backs onto the wood.
She says the bikers are a "terror" and have made her scared to even take a step off her own path, which leads directly into the woodland.
She told Nottinghamshire Live: "We go out for a nice walk and in the past it has always been cars going down, but now it's bikes and they're a terror.
"It's scary even stepping out my back gate, they're definitely speeding and they make a horrendous racket.
"It's loud and they are tearing up and down. How can you catch them?
"It's a lovely place, quite a quiet area, and it's being spoilt."
Other residents have experienced similar scenes, with two people speaking of the incident where a rider was knocked off her horse by the passing bikers.
Alex Wharmby, 32, who also lives in the estate, has not experienced many issues first hand but says she regularly hears and sees the bikers.
She told Nottinghamshire Live: "I don't go in on my own anymore, I go with my partner and son but from hearing what people are saying I won't do it.
"A lot of people walk their dogs and I don't think the bikers have been driving very sensibly past them, I've heard them and seen them, at any time too, it could be 2pm in the afternoon."
Residents in the area have set up a WhatsApp group to share intelligence about the bikers, as well as other local issues.
Another neighbour in the group is Bryan Liesley, 73, who told Nottinghamshire Live: "A lot of people around here are dog walkers and they go around the woods.
"Someone once fell off a horse because of them, it has all been reported to the police.
"It has been ongoing like this for a few months, I'm hoping the police are going to do something about it - we have to be careful walking in the woods."
A fourth resident, who didn't want to be named, added that dog walkers now regularly have to keep their pets close in fear of bikers zooming around and paying no attention to their surroundings.
The residents' concerns led to the meeting with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson and Inspector Mark Dickson, Ashfield's district commander.
Speaking following the meeting, Mr Anderson noted how residents were "fed up" with the ongoing incidents.
And Inspector Dickson has outlined how the force plans to tackle the ongoing issue.
Officers in Ashfield have launched the new 'Operation Annachinda', which will use different methods and techniques to identify offenders.
New techniques will include the mapping of offending vehicles and riders, engaging with wider partners and building up a bigger picture of where offenders are committing crimes.
Inspector Dickson said: "The illegal riding of vehicles is an ongoing issue across the force, and one the residents of Ashfield raise with me regularly.
"Local people are sick of these bikes being ridden illegally and causing a danger to people as well as causing criminal damage, including in private areas.
"We’ve recently received a few reports of people picking up injuries while riding these bikes and also animals being injured as a result of their use.
"This new approach, through Operation Annachinda, will allow us to be more systematic and targeted in our approach and allow us to use a range of legal and civil powers, including injunctions, to disrupt this activity and make spaces safer for all.
"I hope it reassures the public of our relentless commitment to tacking this distressing issue and that we are listening to their concerns and taking them seriously."
