CYCLE club members are riding dangerously side-by-side along narrow roads and being abusive to motorists, it is claimed.

Lanes between Stokesley, Hutton Rudby, Crathorne and Middleton on Leven are regularly used by cycle clubs, as is the A19 for speed trials.

But a Middleton on Leven man, who is also a cyclist, says cyclists taking part in large events are increasingly bad mannered and reckless.

Mat McAdams, a parish councillor, recently told Rudby Parish Council about an incident on a lane near Middleton.

"I was driving along the road and just came across them. I had nowhere to go.

"I don't know what would have happened if they had hit my car. If I'd been driving like a boy-racer, I'd have killed about 20 of them!

"I had abuse from cyclists who were riding eight-deep. I got fingers stuck up at me and comments from them. They were very aggressive. I was furious. It's just not on.

"Why do they race on the back roads? I'm a cyclist, but I sometimes wonder who actually controls these big races.

"These are large clubs with lots of members, but they come belting along, as if they own the road. They would frighten horses the road, if they just appeared at that speed and in those numbers."

Coun Bob Hutchinson, also a cyclist, said: "Cycle clubs don't have to inform people about races, but they normally do."

The council will raise its concerns with the police.