A CANAL towpath is being treated like a "motorway" by children on mini moto motorbikes, police said today.

The problem has become so bad along the Leeds and Liverpool canal in Blackburn that officers are speaking to British Waterways to see if certain sections can be blocked off.

Officers said that the long open stretches of towpaths were allowing riders to reach speeds of up to 40 mph on the two foot high miniature motorbikes as they raced each other.

They fear it is only a matter of time before a child or pedestrian is killed or seriously injured in a crash involving mini motos.

Police Community Support Officer Nigel Brooke said: "I am writing to the British Waterways about this because the towpath is becoming like a motorway.

"You can really get good speeds up down there and it is becoming a particular problem to us.

"The canal has to be open to the public, we have to allow equipment on the footpath to cut the grass and emergency services have to have access.

"So we cannot completely close off the access.

"However we may be able to introduce certain measures which would force the riders to get off their bikes at regular points which would slow them down."

PCSO Brooke also urged parents not to buy mini motos for their children as Christmas presents.

He said: "These are freely available throughout Blackburn.

"You can get them from second hand markets and car boot sales.

"But what people don't recognise is that you have to be 16 years old to ride them, that you need to pass a test, have insurance, tax and an MOT.

"They have to conform to all the regulations as you would with a normal motorcycle.

"Parents don't realise this."

Police have to power to seize a mini moto from a youngster, providing they have first warned them about their behaviour. And parents could also face fines of up to £1,000.