From M Ellis

SIR. Something must be done about the loutish behaviour of motorcycle and scooter riders. Increasingly, it seems at weekends and evenings the air is permeated with their annoying noise.

The scooters have that irritating crazy frog' neem-neem sound and are driven at top speed by teenagers.

Sometimes these teenagers buzz round in gangs and I have seen them do wheelies down residential roads, drive down alleyways and ride around illegally with pillion passengers without crash helmets.

Last night after midnight, I looked outside because I heard a commotion coming my way, to see a scooter going full-pelt being pursued by a police patrol car.

Motorcyclists are no better. Unless they are under the supervision of an instructor they all seem to ride at the maximum possible, illegal speed.

Some machines on the Richmond Road and Ham Gate Avenue can be heard half a mile away because of the noise they make. When it comes to parking it seems anything goes, including the pavement.

I phoned Kingston Council to ask what it can do to crack down on the irresponsible and dangerous behaviour of motorcyclists only to be told that it was the council's policy to encourage motorcycles because allegedly they are environmentally friendly'.

I really don't understand how itworks that out. It needs to think more about the residents being terrorised by the speed, noise and dangerous riding of motorbikes.

MR M ELLIS Latchmere Lane Kingston