DON'T LET YOUR KIDS RIDE THESE MINI BIKES; Safety experts plea to parents.

SAFETY campaigners have called for tighter restrictions on miniature motorbikes following the death of two young children.

Thousands of the 'monkey bikes' have been sold in the UK in the last year, with celebrity fans including pop stars Robbie Williams and Jamiroquai.

Owners need to be over 16 years of age and hold a provisional licence before they can ride the 2ft tall bikes, which can reach speeds of 30 mph.

But the Birmingham-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is calling for tighter restrictions following the death of two young children. Nottingham father Michael Hancock saw his six year-old son Kieran killed as he supervised him riding his 50cc Honda in September last yearThe youngster, who was wearing safety goggles and a crash helmet, hit a steel park pavilion. He died a few hours later of head injuries at the city's Queens Medical Centre.

And just last month four yearold David Spence was also killed when his 50cc bike collided with a car in Belfast. He was not wearing a helmet.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said people should receive full training before riding the bikes - and children should never be allowed on them.

'Training is an issue,' he said. 'Even people who have a full motorcycle licence won't be usedto driving such a small bike. I have also seen people driving these tiny bikes on the roads where car drivers would have difficulty seeing them. Children have not got the experience or skills to ride them safely and I would advise parents not to let their kids use them.

'They should not even consider riding them on the roads and pavements.'

A Honda-built bike sells for around pounds 1,000 but cheaper Chinese models can be picked up for as little as pounds 199.

'Poor quality imports add to the problem,' added Mr Clinton. 'As these bikes grow in popularity, we imagine more people will be killed using them.'

David Blackwell is manager of Monkey Bike UK, based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, is one of the country's biggest retailers of the machines.

He said the sale of second-hand or unroadworthy bikes was adding to the safety problem.

'Some bikes are being sold by Jack-the-lads at car boot sales or even on eBay by people trying to make money.'

The Honda miniature bike first appeared in the UK in 1962 and was originally aimed at boat and caravan owners who could take them away on holidays

CAPTION(S):

KILLED: Kieran Hancock; BIKERS: youngsters race in an organised Mini Moto Racing meeting