Motorcyclists over 16 caught riding mini motorbikes without bike insurance and a licence may face seeing their bikes crushed as a result after complaints from residents of Ham Green, Somerset.

Ongoing complaints on teenagers riding their noisy vehicles on pavements have led local police officers to take action as concerns arise on the safety of villagers and riders.

Sergeant Terry Scoble said: "The children often don't wear crash helmets, they ride in the dark and they are not trained. They also pose a danger for residents and older people walking around because they go round quite quickly.”

As a result, teenagers in Pill, Somerset have been warned that their mini motorcycles will be confiscated and crushed if caught without insurance.

He said:  "It is an easy problem to solve because as soon as we catch them, if they are over 16 we can take the bikes off them and crush them…If they are under 16 then we will impound it and they will need to pay for it to be returned.”

Teenagers would have to pay £105 to get the bike back with an additional £12 for each day it stays in the pound.

Meanwhile, Honda Motor Co has revealed that a new range of hybrid motorbikes will be launched, Honda Motor Co.

Honda believes that it will develop a hybrid engine which is able to fit onto a cycle frame by 2010. The new bikes are believed to be produced between 200 and 1,000cc with an engine being 50 per cent more fuel-efficient than other engines.