Leon Smith (17) claims he was cycling down Elwyn Road in March at around 5.30pm on recently when he went onto the pavement to avoid a car coming towards him.

He alleges he was only riding along on the path for between five and ten seconds before getting off his bike and walking.

He was then approached by a PCSO who gave him a £30 fixed penalty notice.

Leon said: “You get a lot of speeding cars along there and I didn’t want to get hit. I checked there were no people on the path then went onto it. I think this is absolutely silly. There’s a line between giving people fines for doing something wrong and scamming people.”

He said that if people drove slower and there were better facilities for cyclists, like cycle lanes, then perhaps less people would go on the pavement.

A police spokesperson said: “Residents of March tasked police at the last panel meeting to take action against cyclists who ride on pavements in the town centre. Warnings were first given to offenders, before the enforcement action took place.

“The cyclist on this occasion was witnessed by the PCSO riding his bike along Elwyn Road and into the High Street on the pavement. It was only when he saw the PCSO he got off his bike.

“He was informed about the priority set by residents, and the dangers of riding on the footpath and was then issued with a £30 fine. He then asked for a police constable to attend, and an officer did on his request. The cyclist then accepted the fine.”