A PENSIONER had to take refuge behind a tree when thugs on scrambler bikes tried to run her over after she complained about the mess their machines were making at a Wirral beauty spot.

Police have told the Globe they “will not tolerate” such behaviour and are working flat-out to try to catch the yobs.

The elderly woman from Wallasey took pictures of the frightening moment the bikers rode straight at her.

She was out walking her dog in Arrowe Country Park when she saw three motorbikes racing towards her.

The woman, who does not want to be named, told us how her shocking ordeal began.

“I heard these loud engine sounds - then three lads on scrambler bikes rode past me and started wrecking the area," she said.

“I took my phone out to take a picture because I wanted to show them the damage they were causing.

“When they saw I had the phone they started driving straight at me several times and doing circles around me before I managed to get behind a tree.

“They rode off over the golf course, churning up all the grass.

“Some people by the course saw what had happened and called the police.

“People in the park told me scrambler bikers nearly always turn up here during the day because they know there is no way police or anyone else can stop them.”

She continued: “It was just so frightening.

“Something needs to be done to stop this from happening because clearly they’re being allowed to get away with it.

“It’s not just dangerous, it’s destroying the local area.”

Police confirmed they received reports of three men on scrambler bikes wearing helmets with their faces covered at the park and golf course just before 2.20pm on Tuesday.

Community inspector Paul Harrison said: “I want to reassure people that we will not tolerate those people who continue to make life difficult for decent people in our communities who want to enjoy the parks and open spaces.

"We are working with partner agencies to ensure we can ensure our communities are safe places to live and our parks can be enjoyed by all.

"We will continue to take action whenever the community tells us there are problems.

“I would appeal to anyone with information about anti-social behaviour, and illegal or nuisance scrambler bikes in their areas to get in touch with us and I can assure them we will take action.

“We will be concentrating on areas where people have told us they are suffering the effects of this behaviour."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.