THE tale of the two mountain bikes chained to railings outside the entrance to a Newton Abbot primary school moved up a gear this week when they were joined by a moped.

But by Tuesday afternoon the moped had been removed, although the bikes, which have been there since just before the school term began, remain outside Wolborough Primary in Union Street and are becoming the worse for wear.

Now rusty and with wheels buckled on one and tyres missing from the other, the school is concerned for the welfare of its children as they arrive and leave.

A school spokesman said it was a health and safety issue and it had contacted Teignbridge Council, Devon County Council and the police, but each was passing the problem to the other and the school was going around in circles.

Being on the road side of the railings, there are double yellow lines on this section of the narrow one-way street.

The school fears children leaving or arriving could inadvertently injure themselves on the rusty machines.

It is believed the bikes may have been left there by a nearby resident in an attempt to deter parents from parking on that section while dropping off and collecting their children, making it difficult to get in and out of a driveway or garage to a property.