HUNDREDS of residents fed up with living in fear of motorbikes roaring around their estate will this week step their protest up a gear.

An army of campaigners will tell city MP Alan Whitehead that the teen bikers which terrorise residents in Lordshill have to go.

Just last month, six-year-old Owen Stockting was left battered and bruised after being struck by a hit-and-run biker.

Police said the motorcyclist could have been travelling at up to 60mph when it hit Owen outside his home in Mattheson Road.

Now parents on the estate have banned children from playing outside and elderly

people are afraid of being knocked down by racing trail bikes that tear through alleyways and underpasses.

In a 300-signature petition to Mr Whitehead, they say the problem has been racing out of control for years.

The MP has organised a meeting, leafleted more than 1,000 homes and now hundreds of people are expected to turn out to deliver the resounding message: Enough is enough.

Gary Waters, chairman of the local residents' association, said: "This is a huge, huge problem on the estate. People with kids don't even let them out any more to cycle round the block because it's just too dangerous.

"You even see adults chasing around the alleys on motorbikes. I was nearly hit just the other week."

Cromarty Road

resident Richard Densham, 56, was one of those who sparked the MP's interest in the issue.

He said: "This has been going on for three years and I've been speaking to everybody about it, but very little changes."

The meeting starts at 7.30pm tomorrow in the theatre at Oaklands Community School in Fairisle Road, Lordshill.

Police and city safety chiefs will be at the meeting to listen to residents' concerns.