HOUSEHOLDERS living near a cycle path appealed for action to stop motorcyclists using it in the days leading up to a York pensioner's death, it has emerged.

Residents say they asked for help before Jack Middleton, 77, was knocked down and killed as he walked along the Sustrans cycle path between Osbaldwick and Tang Hall.

Adam Hudson, 18, of Osbaldwick Lane, York, was yesterday jailed for two and a half years after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

The court heard the mentally-impaired teenager had knocked down Mr Middleton, of Farndale Avenue, while riding flat out on the cycle path.

Bryan Palphreyman, whose Malham Grove house is close to the path, feels that the death could have been prevented.

"I am really upset that this has happened," he told the Evening Press after the tragedy.

"We have been plagued with youths going up and down this path on motorbikes."

He said people had complained to police before Mr Middleton's death but claimed they were told it was not a priority.

"It will be a priority now and it is disgusting that this poor man has died before it was taken seriously."

Mr Palphreyman said he had personally written to the chief constable of the North Yorkshire police force urging action to stop the problem.

He said: "It is always the case. Something has to happen before concerns are taken seriously.

"I have it in writing that I warned the Chief Constable that something like this could happen and it upsets me that the response wasn't enough to stop this."

But DCI Steve Barlow of North Yorkshire police said officers on off-road motorcycles had patrolled the stretch of path where Mr Middleton died only 20 minutes before the accident.

The special unit was established in an effort by police to deal with the problem which is growing on footpaths and cycleways throughout the city.

DCI Barlow said: "We can confirm that the public and local representatives have raised the problems and it is something that we have been aware of.

"This has been something we have been trying to prevent but, unfortunately, it has happened.

"The message we have sent out is that these tracks are not for motorcycles, and that is clearly marked. Motorcyclists using them are committing an offence, we have been policing them and we will prosecute.

"If anything can come out of Mr Middleton's tragic death then it is that, hopefully, people will get that message.

"The Sustrans track has been specifically designed for safe passage of pedestrians and cyclists and, just because somebody chose to ride a motorcycle on it, this has happened. We do not want it to happen again."