Terrorised residents living on an estate plagued by youths riding through streets on go-ped Mini motorbikes fear it is just a matter of time someone dies.

A Mini Moto craze has hooked youngsters living on Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate, and residents claim it is causing chaos.

It is illegal to drive the petrol-powered bikes on the roads and police have now pledged to put a stop to the explosion of Mini Moto's being used on the estate.

Two local shops sell the bikes, which can reach speeds of 65mph, but residents fear if police do not confiscate the bikes the craze will end in tragedy.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Brian Lester said: "Someone's going to get injured and we are going to have another group of grieving parents -- that's not something we want to see.

"We've had a couple of tragic deaths on this estate and the way they fly about the roads here we could have another.

"Parents might think it is a bit of harmless fun and see me as a kill-joy but sooner or later someone is going to get badly hurt."

Gangs of youths riding Mini Moto's have been seen using the car park at the Kassam Stadium, Gillians Park and streets throughout the estate.

Riders as young as 10-years-old have also been seen illegally using the bikes, and residents say they are tormented by the 'buzz-saw' sound the engines make and by careless driving.

Bob Avery, of Ashmole Place, called the police after watching youths tear around outside his house. He said: "It's getting completely out of control. They tear up and down the estate and no one does anything about it.

"We told the police months ago when there were only a couple of these bikes and they didn't do anything about it. Now there are so many of them it's too late to stop it."

The bikes can be bought from the Oxford Mini Moto Centre in Cowley and Sound City, Barns Road, in Blackbird Leys.

Ulfat Kiani, owner of Oxford Mini Moto, said: "We don't just hand out bikes to anyone, and we don't allow children into the shop.

"I have to talk to parents and explain it looks like an innocent toy, but these things are quite dangerous.

"I tell parents they can't ride these things on the roads because some of them can do 65mph.

"It has really exploded recently and someone is going to get badly hurt soon."