THEY call it 'The Bodysnatcher' and its here to crush an invasion of motorised menaces plaguing our streets!

That's the warning from police vowing to get tough on riders of dangerous 'mini-motos' before someone is killed.

"These motorbikes are inherently dangerous," said PC Brian Gladstone, one of five highly trained police bikers ready to be deployed across Halton and Cheshire.

"They can go 30 miles per hour. If you come off one or hit a pedestrian at that speed you can cause some serious damage.

"They are highly illegal and anti-social when used in public. The idea is to raise awareness of the dangers and show we have the capabilities to tackle this problem."

The crackdown featuring the mobile crushing unit was launched at Upton community centre, Widnes, last week.

Mum Julie Chamberlain, aged 42, from Upton, described the torment such bikes can cause as she witnessed dozens being destroyed.

"I was plagued by the same lad riding round and round the block," she said. "Children couldn't play out in case they got hit, if he wasn't riding it he was up all night revving it to fix it, and you worried your car might be damaged.

"In the end my husband smashed it up. We'd had enough. We laid down the law to him and explained the problems he was causing everyone.

"He's great now and has a normal bike. He said he hadn't realised the nuisance he was causing."

Another parent, Cathy Behn, aged 38, from Brookvale, Runcorn, said her son still loved motorbikes despite a horrific accident.

"Steven was 16 when he had a head-on collision with a friend in Stockham Lane last December," she said.

"He broke his femur and had to have skin grafts on his leg which have left severe scars.

"I'd bought him it under pressure and the guilt I feel now is horrendous.

"He would still ride one if he had one. He just doesn't realise how precious life is. I don't think I could carry on if I lost him."

One in five motorbike accidents result in death.

It is illegal for under-16s to ride mini-motos they and cannot be legally ridden in public without tax, insurance, MoT and a licence.

Young riders and the parents who buy them risk prosecution for motoring offences while persistent offenders could be given ASBOS.