TRAFFIC police in North Yorkshire have been urged to take a tougher line with motorcyclists who break speed limits by a considerable margin in parts of the county.

They were told that while efforts were being made to attract visitors back to the Dales following foot-and-mouth, motorists were becoming frightened to go on country roads because of large numbers of speeding riders weaving in and out of traffic.

It was claimed that motorcyclists travelled at more than 100mph through Bilsdale and that every weekend at least 200 riders were doing 60mph in the 30mph zone at Stillington, near Easingwold.

Members of the North Yorkshire county committee for Hambleton were reacting with concern to news that in the eastern police area, which includes Hambleton, five riders had died in 11 serious accidents involving motorcycles between May 1 and 22.

PC Brian Rogers, of the eastern area traffic unit, said the Bike Safe campaign aimed at older bikers had helped to reduce accident figures.

Older riders were buying new machines, however, and their previous high-powered ones were being picked up readily and cheaply by younger people for use on country roads. Many accidents involved failure to negotiate bends.

Coun Caroline Patmore, of Stillington, told PC Rogers that police were not seen enough in villages in her area, where there was a significant motorcycle problem.

Coun John Coulson said: "We are trying to get people to come into the Dales but they are frightened to go on the roads at weekends. The county council should organise speed cameras because there is money in the budget."

Coun Peter Brown said: "It is horrible to go out on roads on Saturdays and Sundays. The noise and speed are frightening, as are the risks riders are taking. We are not going to tolerate it any longer."

PC Rogers said police enforcement of speed limits had to be curtailed last year because of foot-and-mouth, but renewed action was planned to tackle what he admitted was a worrying trend.

He added: "I would rather see some traffic calming through villages than enforcement, which is very labour intensive and limits the number of sites we can visit.

"There is also the problem that while we are enforcing we can be called away to a serious or fatal motorcycle accident.

"Bike Safe worked to a degree with some older bikers, but now younger people are getting hold of high-powered machines.

"Bikes are made to go too fast. Legislation allows them to come into this country and we are left with the problem of how to tackle speeding motorcyclists.

"Helmsley is a well-known meeting place for bikers, but they tend to alter their routes into the town because they think they are going to get caught."

County council traffic manager Graham Cressey said discussions were taking place with police to put together a business case for speed cameras in North Yorkshire, but the Government had to be convinced the scheme would break even. The problem of motorcyclists would be raised at the next meeting with police on June 19