POLICE have seized six motorbikes from teenagers as part of a clampdown on anti-social behaviour.

As part of the Street Safe Scheme, Operation Dulcify took Durham Motorbike Constabulary Section off-road at the weekend to stop youngsters causing misery on their bikes around Newton Aycliffe, Shildon and Eldon.

Beat Sergeant Edward Turner, from Sedgefield, said: "Tackling nuisance bikes is just one element of the Street Safe campaign.

"Little kids, teenagers, adults, riding quad bikes and motorbikes all plague people when they ride off road and on public footpaths.

"Durham Motorbike Constabulary section can follow them more easily and have a better chance of catching them than the Panda car. Some of the bikes are loud, dangerous to others and can be very intimidating.

"A lot of it is to do with ignorance. Some people think that if they can find a plot of wasteland they can ride on it.

"We are trying to tell them that that's not the case."

The Street Safe campaign was launched this year by Durham Police and has seen more high-visibility policing on the streets in a bid to fight the fear of crime.