Police last night launched a probe to find a quad bike driver who endangered pedestrians by mounting a pavement in a north-east village.
The biker, who was seen driving a blue quad bike, drove along the footpath close to Marine Terrace in Portsoy at about 4.30pm on Tuesday last week.
Police are now making inquiries to try to trace the driver.
Inspector Colin Taylor of the community policing team in Banff said that the incident was “totally unacceptable”.
He added: “Operation Cedar is our ongoing road safety campaign designed to reduce the numbers of serious and fatal road traffic collisions across the division.”
“Under this operation we will target anyone who endangers the lives of others, including the driving of motorbikes and quad bikes in an antisocial manner, and we will deal with offenders robustly.”
He is calling for members of the public who may know the individual involved, or who saw it happen, to contact police on 101.
Mr Taylor said: “Information from the public is extremely important in these types of incidents, such as colours and makes or bikes used and any descriptions of those committing the offence.
“In a separate incident this week information from the public assisted in officers charging two males aged 20 and 27 in relation to antisocial behaviour and road traffic offences and two quad bikes were seized. We are grateful to the public for their cooperation and thank them for their assistance.”
Last night, the vice-chairman of the local safety group, Mark Findlater, said that drivers of motorbikes and quad bikes should know better than to use a public footpaths.
“It’s a definite no-no, and they shouldn’t do it,” he said.
“It’s a danger to the public and I would ask people who do know something to pass it on to the police.”
Charity Crimestoppers can also be called on 0800 555 111 to give information anonymously.