CYCLISTS being urged to protect their machines by visiting one of a series of bike surgeries being held over the next two months.

Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership has invested almost £1,500 in secure marking kits – which make the bicycles traceable if stolen.

And the police’s Safer Neighbourhood teams have now been supplied with 500 kits to use at the bike surgeries.

Officers will etch identification on to bikes and post the details to a secure online database which police forces across the country have secure access to.

Inspector Neil Northend said: “People spend a lot of money on buying a bike and many parents will have made that investment this Christmas.

“Bikes are easy targets for thieves, especially if they are not securely stored or left unlocked even for a short time.

“Our bike surgeries will give local residents the chance to get their new bike marked and registered on the national database.

“Security marking offers peace of mind that if your bike is stolen and we recover it as part of our operations, we will be able to hand it back to you.”

Officers will also be giving advice and guidance on cycle safety.

Surgeries will take place in: Easingwold Market Place: January 26 - mobile police office, 10am – 1.30pm. Thirsk Market Place: January 27 - mobile police office, 10am - 1.30pm. Great Ayton Discovery Centre: February 2, 10am – 2pm. Scotton village hall: February 2, 10am – 2pm. Stokesley town hall: February 9, 10am – 2pm.

For more information and to check on further surgery dates visit northyorkshire.police.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4351&amonth=1&ayear=2013&submit=Go