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Reckless scrambler bike riders caused chaos across Merseyside today . Police confirmed that the force helicopter had been monitoring large numbers of up to 60 riders at locations across Merseyside.

One group was pictured gathering at Otterspool.

Other reports came in in from Bootle, Garston, West Derby, Speke, Old Swan, Kirkdale and Walton.

Scores of motorists took to social media to complain about the bikers riding recklessly in and out of the traffic.

One said: “They were on Queens Drive then right through West Derby passing me and just swerving in between cars and went through every set of lights regardless if the were red and green they almost caused a crash on Melwood going through red lights!”

Another added: “They are going through red lights and highly dangerous I was at the junction of Westminster and Spellow Lane two cars in front of me. The first car began to pull forward as one bike stopped in front of them and refused to move, words were exchanged to which the other bikes began to surround the car and forced the car to move back.”

One ECHO reader described them as a “never ending wave”: “I was driving down the east lancs road by the home and bargains and at least 20-30 bikers all on scramblers/scooters/quad bikes came from down the back of Willow Way, Croxteth through a red light into oncoming traffic! This forced the oncoming to come to a complete stop. I was doing 40 mph with my young nephew in the car and had to slam on the brakes. These reckless idiots have no regard for any other road user, it was like a never ending wave of bikes. The majority of the scramblers had L plates and some had no registration! As some of the cars were trying to go around them the bikers came to a complete stop (blocking the whole road) allowing bikes behind them to go across.”

Merseyside Police said they had received multiple reports of the bikes being ridden recklessly in different parts of the county.

A force spokesman said officers were carrying out an evidence-gathering operation using the force helicopter.

He said: “The tactic is being used to avoid increasing the risk to public safety and to maximise the amount of evidence that can be gathered to take firm action at a later stage.

“The force is committed to tackling the anti-social and illegal use of scrambler and quad bikes and, following a successful campaign this summer in which dozens of bikes were seized and crushed thanks to information from the public, would continue to appeal for people to tell us who is riding them and where they are being hidden.”