POLICE are hunting a gang of “dangerous” nuisance bikers on stolen mopeds causing chaos on the island and failing to stop.

A total of four black stolen bikes, one stolen from London, evaded police while riding in an “anti-social manner” in Denham Road and Thorney Bay.

The scary incident happened on Thursday May 18.

A tactic also employed by London gangs, Essex Police said the criminals are using stolen bikes in order to commit crime to evade detection.

It comes after a motorbike gang brandishing hammers and metal bars terrorised central London.

Ray Howard, councillor for Castle Point West ward, deplored the nuisance Canvey riders.

He said: “I’ve seen these nuisance bikers and it’s terrifying, it has to be stopped.

“Have you seen what they do when they’re out on the streets? They go down the road on one wheel.

“We are meeting Roger Hirst soon and I will certainly raise this as an item on the agenda.

“We need to catch these criminals and scrap their motorbikes bikes.

“Have you seen what’s going on in London? They’re driving around illegally without tax or insurance, someone is going to be killed.”

Marie Martin, manager of Wickford Action Park, vented her frustration at the situation, saying she would be able to help if the park was reopened.

She said: “We used to work with police to get these people off the streets.

“We would give them free rides.

“We also offered free bike storage where young people could only access their bikes with their parents there – so the parents knew where their children were.

“With the park closed our hands are tied.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police have registration numbers, however they are not local keepers and one has been reported as stolen from the Metropolitan Police area. These are clearly local youths riding these mopeds due to their local knowledge so somebody must know who they are or where they come from.

“These mopeds and their riders are a danger to themselves and others and need to be stopped before somebody is seriously hurt.”

Please call Essex Police on 101 with any information.