Nuisance off road bikes seized in clampdown

The vehicle seizures follow similar operations in the Northumbria Police area

A crackdown on anti-social behaviour involving off-road bikes has led to 15 arrests an 30 vehicles being seized.

Northumbria Police's motorbike disorder unit was set up to tackle vehicle crimes across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Sunderland City Council said more than 250 patrols had taken place in the city since December.

Council deputy Claire Rowntree said the work sought to "disrupt criminal and anti-social uses of motorbikes across the city".

'Destroyed' nature reserve

Ms Rowntree told a meeting of the full council the authority encouraged residents "to report incidents of anti-social behaviour to allow appropriate investigations to be undertaken".

One resident raised concerns about motorbike riders “wearing balaclavas” in Concord, Albany and surrounding areas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Another said Tunstall Hills Local Nature Reserve was being “destroyed due to scrambler bikers and quad bikes racing across the fields”.

They warned there was an “accident waiting to happen where people walk with children and dogs”.

Ms Rowntree said there was no record of this being reported but the motorbike disorder unit would monitor the area in the future.