BEACH hut owners have called for action to stop cyclists pedalling along the promenade on Southend seafront, over fears they are causing a danger to children.

Southend Council and Essex Police were urged to act against the pavement cyclists at a meeting of the Southend Beach Hut Owners’ Association, after members claimed there could soon be an accident.

Jan Lewis, who lives in Leigh, and has owned a beach hut for the past year, said owners were having to dodge bicycles, who use the promenade illegally.

She told the meeting, which attracted more than 50 members, said: “I’m a cyclist and I feel very strongly about people cycling on the pavement. There’s a fantastic cycle track in that end of the town.

“We’ve got young children running on the beach and the promenade, and people whizzing along on bikes.

“I know it’s very tempting, but I was wondering if there was something we could do?”

She suggested one end of the promenade should be gated off, to prevent cyclists gaining access. Gerry Saxony-Burton, chairman of the association, said: “We’ve discussed this before, but they can’t do it because of motorised scooters, prams and pushchairs.”

Sgt Victoria Bax, of the neighbourhood policing team for Southchurch, said they had recently launched an operation with Southend Council and the road safety team, which stops offenders and offers them education.

She said: “Their details get registered on our database. If they get caught again they will be fined, with regards to riding on the pavement. We are aware and we’ve got a specific operation which is trying to help.”

However, on the positive front, association vice chairman, John Clark, said there had been few problems with crime this year at beach huts.