Councillor Brian Heading raised concerns over the use of quad bikes at the recent monthly meeting of the City Council, where he said that quad bike dealers and quad bikes should be registered, enabling authorities to have a record of those who are buying and selling them.

He also called for a legal obligation to be placed on dealers to educate purchasers on the potential dangers of the vehicles.

Councillor Heading commented: "Myself and Alderman Porter had the misfortune to visit council facilities which have been damaged by the use of quad bikes. Quads and minimotos are being driven across playing fields, which ruins the pitch and prevents people using it. It is the same with any open spaces in housing estates, which are being ruined by these machines.

"As the Christmas period approaches I want to remind people that it is illegal to drive a quad bike on the public road and on public footpaths. People need to be aware of this, especially parents. In the case of an accident there would be no insurance cover while driving illegally. There would be no insurance cover on damage to property, injury or even death."

Mr Heading continued: "The unfortunate reality is that quad bikes are dangerous and should not be treated like toys or play things. They should be used for the purpose they were made for, which is for agricultural use."

Council members also called upon the Justice Minister to investigate the legal requirement for manufacturers of quad bikes and miniature motorcycles to engineer a limit on their speed.

Councillor Thomas Beckett, Chairman of the Lisburn DPP added: "It is important police officers have the appropriate legislation here in Northern Ireland, which is being fazed in, enabling us to have the same powers and legislation on quad bikes as there are in the rest of the UK.

"Hopefully we can apply pressure on Paul Goggins in order to deal with powers of seizure, such as those under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act on the seizure of motor vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance, which we currently don't have anything equal to in Northern Ireland."

Councillor Paul Butler continued: "There is growing public concern at the anti social use of these bikes and the damage that they are causing to open green spaces. These off road bikes are being driven with impunity up until now. It is now time that action was taken. We need a more effective enforcement strategy by the PSNI, the NIHE and local Council's to deal with the dangers posed by off-road bikes/quads."