A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the issue of illegal off-road biking will take place in Darlington on Saturday.

Following concerns raised in the Eastbourne and other areas of the town, Darlington’s Neighbourhood Policing team have worked with ward Cllr Kevin Nicholson to organise the meeting.

It will be held on Saturday, August 4 from 1pm at the Firthmoor Community Centre.

Chief Inspector Sue Robinson has urged anyone with concerns about dangerous biking to come along and voice their worries.

The meeting comes after Cllr Nicholson criticised the police’s Operation Endurance, launched to tackle the issue.

In an email to Chief Insp Robinson, he said that it was proving to be ineffective and claimed that he had been inundated with complaints, saying that it was becoming “clear that illegal riders go unchallenged in Darlington and there is a developing culture amongst riders to that effect.”

Inspector Chris Knox responded to his points by saying that Durham Constabulary officers were always working to come up with innovative ways of tackling the problem.

He said it was a community issue as he encouraged the public to report nuisance bikers and where they kept their bikes.