VILLAGERS are calling for action against bikers who have turned their village into a version of the notorious Isle of Mann TT Race.

Hundreds of high powered motorbikes steam through Farnley and Norwood during the summer on their way to the Dales on a route known as the Wharfedale TT.

Often at speeds of more than 100mph, some perform wheelies as they overtake cars and also menace drivers by driving too close. Residents say up to 200 motorcyclists an hour can pass through the village.

A petition of 200 names has been sent to North Yorkshire Police and to Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP David Curry.

A spokeswoman for Farnley Neighbourhood Watch said: "It is so dangerous and we believe it needs government legislation to stop it.

"What they tend to do is gather in Farnley near the square and carry out wheelies up and down the road while they are waiting for others to arrive. They then go up to the Sun Inn at Norwood and on the A59 to Pateley Bridge."

She added: "It is a track widely known in the motorcycling world. We had 400 come past us in two and a half hours one night.

"Its horrendous, we can't even go out in our gardens because of the noise."

North Yorkshire Police say motorcyclists from West Yorkshire use the B6161 and the B6451 Farnley Lane to get to the Dales.

Ins Steve Burns, of the Western Area Road Policing Group, said: "We are very much aware of this. What we try to do on certain days is together with outside agencies put on high profile patrols."

Ins Burns said the difficulty was the size of the area and the number of officers.

MP David Curry said he would be monitoring the situation.