Derry councillor Shauna Cusack confronts scrambler riders treating parks like a speedway during COVID-19 lockdown

Colr. Cusack said some people were treating local public places as a speedway track.

This was posing a danger for locals out taking their limited daily exercise. She called for the authorities to act.

"It’s absolutely despicable that these individuals think that their pleasure and thrill seeking supersedes not only what’s legal but also the health and safety of others.

"I have witnessed young men on consecutive evenings use the local park as their personal dirt track, speeding through families with young children and older people out for their limited daily exercise. I confronted one of them and explained this type of activity is not permitted or acceptable and his response was he could to do what he liked," said the Foyleside SDLP councillor.

She warned that someone could be seriously hurt if the activity continues.

"These individuals are well aware that this is not only illegal but morally wrong, especially during lockdown. When so many people are making sacrifices and struggling, but staying indoors, this reckless behaviour is a slap in the face to the whole community.

"I have therefore contacted the authorities to ask that they recognise and tackle this serious issue before someone gets hurt. I would also ask parents whose teenagers have these vehicles to monitor where they are and what they are doing and remember this could lead to fines and the confiscation of their property."