SKATEBOARDERS who risk life and limb to whizz down busy roads have been warned that police can take action.

It follows reports that youngsters in Kirkby Lonsdale had been skateboarding in areas where they may encounter traffic.

Coun Stephen Pepperrell said residents were happy for youngsters to use the skate park area in the town but some had reported children skateboarding on the road down Fairbank.

Kirkby Lonsdale community policeman, PC Ian Rowlinson, said the skateboarding problem was not something new. "I was doing it when I was about 12 or 13," he said. PC Rowlinson said police could take action through a by-law which makes it an offence to skate or rollerblade on a highway "in such a way as to cause annoyance."

He added that he had seen it happen on New Road into Market Square and had tackled those responsible.

"It's advice they need really," he said. Coun Roger Taylor said skateboarders had to realise they were a hazard to themselves.