CLOSING a footpath on a Darlington estate to deter youths on motorbikes will penalise residents, a meeting was told.

The borough council plans to apply to magistrates for an order to block off the path, behind Holgate Moor Green in Firthmoor, because of the nuisance caused to residents.

But a woman, who asked not to be named, told a community safety meeting that the path was used by people to walk dogs.

The woman, from Geneva Road, said: "It is the only nice bit of natural environment for walking your dogs."

She said the answer to youths riding motorbikes along the path was not to close it but to increase police and warden patrols.

"I have walked my dog there for two years and I have never seen a warden there," she said. "Who is winning here? The bullies. We are the good people yet we are having to forfeit our rights."

Meeting chairman Councillor Lee Vasey said residents whose homes looked on to the path backed the closure.

"We can't please everybody and I'm very sorry about that. There is a problem there and it's been there for a long time and we think this is the solution."