SOMEONE could be killed if teenagers pulling wheelies on bikes in the city centre are not stopped.

Worcester News readers have highlighted several incidents of teens recklessly doing wheelies near pedestrians and cars in the last few weeks.

Paul Geraghty, from Worcester, said teenagers riding their bikes and doing wheelies in the middle of the road is a growing issue in the city, adding: “I’d say over the last two to three months more teens are doing these wheelies on the road.

“I can't believe their total lack of respect for their own lives. They are being so stupid and endangering theirs and others lives.”

Mr Geraghty claims he saw at rush hour five teenagers doing wheelies on their bikes in Foregate Street towards oncoming traffic, which caused drivers to swerve out of the way.

He said: “There were two teens in the bus lane and two on the road next to me and one on the pavement. When the lights changed, they were wheeling in front of the car in front of me forcing them to drive cautiously and very slowly. Then two of the riders veered onto the other side of the central reservation by the shops and were wheeling into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.”

Mr Geraghty, aged 40, added: “Drivers were shouting and beeping their horns, only to get a load of abuse back.

“I feel it’s only a matter of time until one or more of these boys are killed.”

Mr Geraghty describes people doing wheelies in the road as the “latest craze”, adding: “You see on YouTube that kids in America are doing wheelies on their motorbikes in the road. Clearly, they think it’s clever and these teens are trying to copy.”

Mr Geraghty claims he has witnessed this issue all over Worcester, especially in areas such as Brickfields Road, Bilford Road, City Wall Road and on the Worcester Bridge.

He said: “These lads are not wearing helmets. I was waiting for one to get knocked off. I couldn't imagine how bad I would feel having knocked one of these twits off their bike, even knowing it wasn't my fault.

“I think this needs to be brought to the public’s attention as it is happening all over Worcester. These teenagers need to be educated and taught some respect. I have no problem against cyclists at all as I am one, but consideration needs to be given to other road and pavement users.”

Mr Geraghty has not reported the issue which happened on May 10 to the police.

Councillor Richard Udall said: “These teenagers should be very careful and aware of their surroundings when on they are on their bikes. If they would like to do wheelies, it should be away from the road and in a quiet area.”

Reader James Taundry claims he often spots teen cyclists “up and down Foregate Street in the bus lane continually."

Mr Taundry, from Worcester added: “It’s pretty stupid, very unsafe and distracting to drivers.

“I often see them wheeling past the Odeon up from near McDonalds, and I’ve also seen them gathering around the Elgar Statue.

“Kids out doing wheelies isn’t an issue, but these are teenagers doing it in dangerous places or menacing others around them.

“A couple of weeks back they were congregating around a much older person, maybe in his mid-twenties, who also had a bike and was egging them on. They were throwing those bangers or whatever they’re called at people, including me. After a while it got rather intimidating, so I decided to move on quickly.”

Sophie King said she has seen two teenage boys riding along Gregory’s Bank, in Worcester adding: “They were swerving out when I was trying to pass them by, I had to go so wide I’m glad a car wasn’t coming the other way.”

Patrick Tinton said: “One of them nearly knocked an old lady over last weekend. I asked them to be a little more careful and was met with abuse. I thought the high street was a pedestrian zone.”

West Mercia Police said: "We are aware of issues in and around Worcester city centre with young persons pulling wheelies on bikes. When seen we try to stop and educate the persons on this behaviour and the dangers involved. Persons repeating this behaviour will be reported to our anti-social behaviour department and dealt with accordingly.

"We do not receive a lot of calls in regards to this, but we do encourage members of the public to call any antisocial behaviour to our non-emergency number being 101."