A QUAD biker has made a bargain with youngsters they can become part of his pit crew in return for staying out of trouble.

Sean Murray, 39, has teamed up with four youngsters from the Tree Estate Youth Club, Cedar Road, Dartford, in a bid to give them focus and an opportunity to learn new skills.

The father-of-two went to the centre last week to talk 18 youngsters at the youth club about the dangers of riding mini-mopeds without insurance on residential land.

Afterwards he offered four boys aged between 16 and 18 the chance to accompany him as his pit-crew to two three-hour endurance races in July and October in a bid to prevent them from biking on Dartford Heath.

The boys will take responsibility for repairing and refuelling Mr Murray's bike each time he makes a pit-stop at the races in Surrey and Weston-Super-Mare.

Mr Murray has pledged to teach them how to change wheels, repair bikes, drive safely and even take them riding on legal racing tracks with one condition they must stay out of trouble.

The haulage firm managing director said: "I hope this will encourage them to do something positive and get them to stay off the streets with their own bikes.

"They need to have some focus, you can see it in their faces, they want to do something with their time."

He added: "They are not a nuisance but we hope it will stop them from riding on places such as Dartford Heath or next to homes."

Mr Murray, who has been biking for 18 years, added: "If they keep off their bikes I will even take them to a track and pay for them to race there.

"But they know if they mess up there are others who will take their place."

Club volunteer youth worker Jill Denton said: "It is absolutely brilliant Sean has offered his help.

"There are not many people who would do this.

"I get fed up of people complaining about the children but not doing anything to help."

If you can volunteer at the club on Mondays from 5.30pm to 9pm, call 01322 402237.