BARRIERS are to be erected to prevent off-road bikers from using a public footpath.

Derwentside District Council has voted to put up the gates on the link between Eggleston Drive, in Templetown, and Buddle Street, in Delves Lane, near Consett.

It means walkers can still enjoy the path, but bikers will not be able to get their machines on to the right of way.

The move follows complaints by villagers.

In September last year, residents in Eggleston Drive and Mickleton Close wrote to the authority, urging it to close the path immediately. The council sent out letters to 400 householders in a consultation exercise and the majority asked for the barriers.

Gavin Northwood, who lives on the Burnside estate, next to the path, said: "There is frequent and inappropriate use of the pathway by scrambler motorbikes, which are raced up and down at high speeds, presenting danger to pedestrians.

"Young children often congregate in the opening to the pathway and would clearly suffer serious injury if coming into contact with one of these bikes."

In one instance, he had nearly backed into a biker while reversing his car.

"On another occasion, my wife was almost knocked down while walking from the drive on to the main path running along the houses to the estate," he said.

He said residents' lives had also been blighted by youths gathered at the Eggleston Drive entrance to the path, leading to vandalism and criminal damage, and by rowdy revellers returning from town centre nightclubs on weekends.

Councillor Alex Watson, leader of the district council, said: "This has been causing a problem for residents and we have responded to improve their quality of life."