MOTORCYCLISTS who disturb the peace of the Durham Dales during tranquil summer weekends are to be targeted by a new police project aimed at education, backed up by enforcement action if necessary.

The scheme will be led by Insp David Allaway of Barnard Castle police, who has been the recipient of many complaints and requests from residents and parish councils in Upper Teesdale to tackle what they see as a mounting problem.

At a parish council meeting in Middleton in Teesdale last autumn, Coun Diana Mahood raised concerns about a message posted on an internet web site.

It told bikers of the "30 miles of brilliant road between Alston and Barnard Castle, with no police, cameras or villages to slow you down," and advising them to "go play."

On visiting that same web site this week, the D&S Times discovered it extolling the virtues of the road from Wolsingham to Alston, referring to a mixture of fast, hard corners and straights followed by long, sweeping A roads.

Outlining his proposals to those attending the police community consultative group in Barnard Castle on Tuesday, Insp Allaway told how between April and September, Teesdale and Weardale became a haven for motorcyclists who descended on the open country roads.

However, he also pointed out that speeding was not the main issue, it was more a question of educating them on country road etiquette and to have respect for the inhabitants of the Dales.

"We will be taking the mobile police station, more commonly known as the chip van, out at weekends in Teesdale and Wear Valley for this purpose," said Insp Allaway.

"We will be encouraging motorcyclists to stop for a cup of coffee and to take advantage of a whole raft of information on board. This will include facts about advanced driving courses as well as how to prevent motorcycles from being stolen."

He will also be writing to parish councils to see if members would like to go out on the "chip van" to put forward their perspective.

The project will be supported by officers from the force's motorcycle section, who will use enforcement procedures if necessary.

"We want to encourage motorcyclists to come to the Dales, but we must get the message across that they need to have respect for the people who live there," he added