SENIOR police officers were yesterday urged to tackle the problem of "maniac" motorcyclists who hurtle through the Yorkshire Dales at speeds of up to 150mph.

Residents and councillors were appalled to hear that limited police resources meant there was often only one road policing officer to cover the A1 from Dishforth to the Tees and the whole of Richmondshire.

Swaledale parish forum heard that the quality of life in the area and, particularly, in neighbouring Wensleydale was being badly affected by bikers.

Many believed the problem was so bad that visitors were deterred from going to the dales, particularly at weekends and bank holidays, and businesses were suffering.

Six of the seven fatal motorcycle accidents in Richmondshire over the last five years happened on the A684 between Leyburn and Hawes and the B6255 Hawes to Ingleton road.

County Coun Carl Les told the forum at Muker on Wednesday: "I was appalled when I saw the level of cover for Richmondshire and the A1 and I guarantee I will take that up with the area commander tomorrow morning and with the chief constable on Monday."

Coun John Blackie, who represents the upper dales on the county council and Hawes on Richmondshire District Council, said: "Local residents are now being intimidated off the road by the antics of a minority of suicide motorcyclists who come to the dales. The dales are now getting a reputation as a place to avoid at weekends."

Residents in Richmondshire had chipped in an extra £1.2m to the police authority budget following this year's 76pc rise in precept and were seeing nothing for their money, he added.

There was a general feeling that speed cameras would help but Sgt Mick Rookes, of North Yorkshire police, said the systems were very expensive and it cost £1,000 a mile in cabling to relay the images back to a control room.

There was a possibility of warning signs like those on the A61 near Ripon, which advised how many fatal and serious accidents has happened on the stretch.

Joint operations between police and the vehicle inspectorate had taken place, when dozens of motorcycles were found to be defective and taken off the road.