‘DISGRACEFUL’ quad bikers are being hunted by police after ploughing into a man and leaving him injured in the street.

A councillor has called on police to do more to tackle the nuisance of off-road bikers after the elderly man was knocked over in Darlington.

The man was taken to hospital with head injuries after being hit by what is believed to have been a quad bike on Estoril Road in the Eastbourne area of the town.

Two young men – believed to be aged around 17 – are said to have fled the scene after striking him with their bike at about 7pm on Saturday, October 20.

Police are now investigating the incident and are calling on the public for help in tracking down those involved in the hit and run.

PC Dean Philips of Darlington Police said: “This type of incident, where someone is knocked over, is unusual in Darlington, where we’ve seen a recent decrease in incidents involving off-road bikes.

“However, it is disgraceful that these two males left an elderly man lying on the ground having struck him with their quad bike.

“We would urge the public to come forward with any information they might have about who these men were and what kind of bike they were riding.”

Following a spate of incidents, Darlington officers have been tasked to treat off-road bike concerns as a priority as part of Durham Constabulary’s on-going Operation Endurance.

A meeting organised by Eastbourne ward councillor Kevin Nicholson earlier this year, saw about 50 members of the public raise concerns as officers pledged to crackdown on the problem.

As a result of their efforts and work with the community, the force believe incidents in Darlington involving reckless bikers have dropped in recent months.

However, in light recent events, Cllr Nicholson has renewed his call for action, claiming police are still not doing enough to protect Darlington residents, some of whom, he says “fear leaving their homes to pop to the shop in case they’re knocked down”.

He said Darlington Police should follow in the footsteps of other forces in responding immediately to any calls about off-road bikers and said more visible officers on the street would deter criminals.

He added: “It is very upsetting to hear that a member of my community has been injured, particularly when we have been raising this issue and concerns about public safety for a number of years now.

“I am shocked, but not surprised, that this has happened – it has been coming for a long time.

“Residents tell me they are frightened to leave their homes because they are so worried about something like this happening to them.

“I appreciate the police do a good job and their resources are stretched but when people are committing crime, it is a police issue and more needs to be done to inspire confidence within the community that this is being dealt with.”

* Anyone with information should contact police on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.