BIRKENHEAD and Tranmere residents constantly terrorised by teenage gangs racing around their streets on scooters and scrambler bikes say they are at breaking point - with the police accused of doing nothing to stop their reign of terror.

Photographs of stolen bikes are posted on social media at least once a day, with those very bikes seen being ridden recklessly just hours later.

One fed-up neighbour – who asked not to be named - told the Globe the authorities don’t seem to care.

He said: “They ride up my road every single night on stolen bikes. The police have been informed of the names of people and where they live and when they’re doing it but nothing has been done.”

It comes after a scooter – believed to have been stolen – was found burnt out in Birkenhead Park last week, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Seymour Street and Church Road in Tranmere are among the gang’s “favourite” spots, with nearby parks acting as a dumping ground for the bikes – often set alight - once the teens have finished with them.

Youths have also been spotted riding on Warrington Street, Thompson Street and Whetstone Lane.

The worried resident added: “Police say they can’t chase them because they haven’t got helmets on but some of them on the bikes are younger than 16 – there are three or four of them on the bikes at a time.

“There are hundreds of victims of these lads – all of this happens between about 1am and 5am.”

One resident has had their motorbike stolen twice, with police offering him a bike chain after it had already been taken.

Stolen scooters have also been found dumped in gardens.

But their reign of terror goes much further than riding motorbikes, with the teenage gangs also seen throwing stones at windows and vandalising nearby bus stops.

Merseyside Police is currently halfway through a summer crackdown on the criminal and anti-social use of scrambler bikes across the county.

To date, officers have seized 26 scrambler bikes and quad bikes, recovered 57 stolen motorcycles and made 21 arrests.

More than 830 calls have been received from the public to report an offence, with police now making fresh calls for further information.

Operation Brookdale was launched on July 1 to tackle problems caused for communities by scramblers and other machines being ridden recklessly.

A spokesman said: "Merseyside Police works hard to tackle anti-social behaviour in all of its forms and launched its annual summer campaign, Operation Brookdale, to crackdown on the illegal and anti-social use of scrambler and off-road bikes in July. 

"Officers have carried out a wide range of activities in Wirral and have seized over 30 vehicles in the area since the start of the campaign. 

"This last week alone, officers carried out searches at a number of address and parkland in Birkenhead and recovered two bikes.

"Officers paid particular attention to Birkenhead Park, the Woodlands estate and waste grounds in the area – speaking with residents as well as looking for places where these bikes are being stored and used. 

"Officers also used off-road bikes to carry out proactive patrols in Birkenhead park also issued four Section 59 warning notices* for anti-social use of such bikes.

"We recognise the significant impact this type of anti-social behaviour has on residents and I would continue to urge anyone with any information about where these bikes are being used or stored to get in contact, either anonymously via Crimestoppers or by contacting us directing on 101."