THE use of quad bikes on our streets and local open land has become a modern-day blight for many people.

Those who ride them often do so with little thought for the safety of others and themselves, tearing up green spaces and racing along residential roads, putting other road users and pedestrians at risk.

The launch of the so-called “Quad Squad” by police to crack down on dangerous quad and motorbike riders two months ago was roundly welcomed and now the police have unveiled another weapon in their arsenal against the riders – the utter destruction of their machines.

A powerful video released by police shows motorcycles seized by officers being crushed into tiny pieces.

For those who insist on riding their bikes in a dangerous and anti-social manner, it surely must be the ultimate punishment – aside from criminal proceedings and the possibility of being thrown out of their social housing homes – to see their beloved quad bike crushed into a shapeless lump.

At the same time, it will be more than satisfying to those residents who have had to put up with such disturbances and danger to themselves and their families, to see the source of their problems decimated forever.

It is no more than the riders deserve - and will hopefully act as a deterrent to those who ride quads and motorbikes in this way - to know that if they continue to act in this manner their pride and joy will be roundly destroyed.

There is a time and place for such activities, and disturbing or endangering other people is never acceptable.