POLICE have welcomed figures showing a reduction in the number of bikers killed on North Yorkshire's roads last year.

A total of 16 motorcyclists died in accidents last year, compared to 26 in 2003.

A further 114 riders were seriously injured last year - a drop of nearly 60 on the previous 12 months.

Officers said a countywide crackdown on speeding motorcyclists has helped reduce the death toll.

A report by North Yorkshire Chief Constable Della Canning said Operation Halter had been extremely successful in reducing speeds of all road users throughout the county.

The reports said: "There is good reason to believe that the enforcement campaign undertaken last year throughout the county has brought significant benefits in terms of more responsible motorcycle riding.

"Anecdotal feedback to police officers carrying out the enforcement work has confirmed a heightened awareness on the part of the motorcycling public of the increased police presence throughout the county, and of the need to ride in a much more responsible way.

"Despite the fact that 2004 was a much wetter year than 2003, which might account for lower numbers of motorcyclists, there is no hard evidence to support this.

"It is a fact however that victims or seriously injured casualties of motorcycle accidents showed a 30 per cent plus reduction countywide, compared to previous years."

The report said neighbouring counties had not seen similar reductions in deaths and serious injuries.

"It is not considered unreasonable to assume therefore that this joint North Yorkshire Police/North Yorkshire County Council speed enforcement initiative has had a very real effect on reducing the number of motorcycle casualties on the roads in the county," the report adds.

During the high-visibility police campaign, 214 speeding tickets were handed out.

More than 370 fixed penalty notices were also issued for bikers crossing double white lines and having illegal exhausts and registration plates. Other action included the erecting of signs giving information on causality numbers on popular biker routes such as the A684 through Wensleydale.

The crackdown is to be repeated and intensified, if funding allows, during this year's peak motorcycle season, which runs from April to November.