Beleaguered residents have issued a warning to 'menacing' groups of cyclists who they say are a danger to the roads with their high speed group formations.

The parish council in Great Budworth, Cheshire, has now written a stern letter to ten cycling groups following complaints from irate locals claiming they are shattering the tranquillity of their village.

They say they are fed up with groups of up to 30 bikers 'shouting and swearing' at each other as they pedal at up to 40mph through the streets - and even claim they stop to urinate near their prized historical landmarks.

Residents in Great Budworth are fed up with groups of bikers 'shouting and swearing' at each other as they pedal at up to 40mph through the streets

Villager Marion Gardener described the riders as a 'total menace'

Mrs Gardener said: 'If I had my way they would be totally banned from the village.

'They just don't play fair and come racing down the village going far too fast.

'It just isn't suitable for the village, they don't make any sound either so you can't hear them coming.

'They don't go single file, they cover all of the road and make it dangerous for everyone else.'

Council Chairman Hilary Brudenell said: 'We are a very small community and although it's a very small problem it's an annoying one too.

'I appreciate we've not got the Tour de France coming through Great Budworth but villagers have expressed annoyance and we just thought it was sensible at this stage to say "hey, this isn't right".

'We are on the Cheshire cycling way and the village is a well entrenched route for cyclists.

'This is the first complaint we have sent out and we just hope its acts as a gentle warning to some cyclists to be a little more considerate in future.'

The parish council has written a stern letter to ten cycling groups following complaints from irate locals claiming they are shattering the tranquillity of their village

Herman Lenders, 63, said the cycling groups were a 'nuisance'

'They come down the high street really fast, shouting and swearing at each other,' said Mr Lenders.

'They litter and throw Lucozade bottles out in the street.

LETTER SENT TO CYCLING GROUPS In the letter sent to ten cycling groups across the area, Caroline Marshall, Great Budworth Parish Council clerk wrote: 'We have received a number of complaints from residents within the village regarding the conduct of cyclists riding though the village. 'Frequently cyclists come through Great Budworth at a dangerous speed (often in group formations) that are dangerous to both other road users and pedestrians. 'Whilst we appreciate that riders enjoy travelling through such a picturesque village as ours we would like to ask them to be more considerate of the residents who live there. 'Repeatedly cyclists are overheard using offensive language and generally shouting as they travel through. 'It has also been reported that cyclists have been seen urinating in the street, and within both our Upper and Lower Pump houses, historical landmarks in the village. 'We consider all of this conduct unacceptable and urge you strongly to remind your members about what should be considered acceptable behaviour.' Advertisement

'I find them an utter nuisance and they are ruining our way of life.'

Jacob Brown, 18, claimed one rider nearly crashed into his brother's car before shouting at him.

Paul Parker, 85, added: 'These cyclists are going to cause a serious accident one day with the silly speeds they do.

'They come down the high street like drone wasps - around 20 or 30 of them. It's not safe and something does need to be done.

'It causes more problems that they don't go in single file. Why can't they just be more considerate to everyone. They don't own the roads. '

Weaver Valley Cycling Club and North Cheshire Clarions received the letter but defended the conduct of their members and said the allegations related to a 'small minority' of cyclists, adding: 'We are well-known and respected local clubs who engage with our local communities with mutual respect and understanding.'

Billy Ackers, a member of the Cheshire Maverick Cycling Club, said: 'I was quite surprised at hearing about the letter because most clubs do have certain rules about this type of behaviour.

'We generally tell members not to do things that are obvious like urinating in public but I don't know why anyone would want to do that anyway.

'Unfortunately its just a certain few that have been seen doing it - that sort of behaviour doesn't go for all of us.'

The council chairman said: 'I appreciate we've not got the Tour de France coming through Great Budworth but villagers have expressed annoyance'

According to the 2011 census, Great Budworth has population of just 339.

The picturesque village is renowned for its rows of Grade-II listed cottages and can trace its early history in the Domesday Book, which mentions a priest at Great Budworth.