A GROUP of youngsters from a Bradford estate have taken a stand against nuisance bikers by producing a short film about how the problem can ruin lives.

A dozen 11 to 17 year olds from Ravenscliffe have been working on the video for several weeks.

Once it is fully completed, it will be shown to other young people in the city to convince them of the misery anti social biking can bring. It will be also available on Youtube once the final version is edited early in the new year.

The 20 minute film tells the story of two fictional gangs in the estate, and how their lives change when one of them is seriously injured while riding a stolen quad bike.

The youngsters involved have been central to the film's creation, from script writing to filming and acting and will be given certificates for taking part.

The project, run by Bradford Council and Void Arts, started in July, during anti social behaviour week.

Ravenscliffe is one of the hotspots for nuisance biking, and West Yorkshire Police's specialist 'Quad Squad' has seized several vehicles in the area in recent months.

On Saturday the group had its final day of filming, in the Springfield Centre on Thorpe Edge, which was the location for a climactic boxing match between the two gangs.

Nicky Lannen, senior youth worker for Bradford Council, said: "There are a lot of issues with the problem in the area, and we thought about how we could tackle it and raise awareness of the danger of off road biking with young people in the area. There are two gangs in the story and the young people wanted these two gangs to come together at the end.

"You can see how it has helped the kids, the process was very new to them. On day one they were very nervous in front of the camera, but they've got a lot more confident. It is a great thing for these young people to be involved in. Some of them are not in full time education, so this is a great way to engage with them.

"The film is a good way of reversing the negative press associated with young people, and it has made them all a lot more aware of the dangers. I think a lot of people don't realise the impact it has."

Ryan Brooks, 17, lives on the estate and is one of the teens who has been involved in filming from the start.

He said: "We've learned how to write stories and story boards for the film. It has taken up most of our English lessons.

"You see a lot of people riding quads and bikes around Ravenscliffe, and most of them don't have the right safety equipment on. I think people just do it for a laugh. Hopefully this film will make people think about it."

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