POLICE have crushing news for boy bikers bringing misery to housing estates.

Madcap motorcyclists who ride across pavements and school playing fields risk having their machines seized and crushed for scrap metal in a new crackdown in east Cleveland.

Sergeant Ian Hutchinson said: "These reckless youngsters who ride around on motorbikes, which are usually stolen, pose a real danger to innocent passers-by, as well as causing damage to footpaths, school fields and other grassed areas they ride on.''

The boy racers will meet more than their match in the shape of experienced police motorcyclists on go-anywhere tracker bikes.

High profile uniform police patrols will be backed up by officers from Cleveland Police's specialist off-road motorcycle unit, targeting trouble spots suffering from the rogue riders.

Sgt Hutchinson said: "It's difficult for officers on foot patrol to have a lasting impact on the behaviour of these riders, but with the off-road unit working with the community policing teams from the area, we do catch the culprits and when appropriate, arrest them on suspicion of theft of the machines and initiate prosecutions in respect of any motoring offences.

"Any bikes found to be stolen or of uncertain origin will be seized and crushed into scrap metal," he said.

A police operation to stamp out the menace of nuisance motorbikes at Eston, was yesterday hailed a success.

Three riders are to be prosecuted for driving and document offences following Operation Kick Start at the weekend.

Seven bikes were checked and police believe one may have been stolen. Community police and motorcycle officers launched the unannounced crackdown in response to residents' complaints about tearaways recklessly riding across footpaths and open spaces.

Police concentrated on six locations including the Smith's Dock Park area, the Bankfield estate and the Black Path old railway bed through Teesville.

Youngsters and their parents living at Grangetown were given warnings and road safety advice at the weekend.

Police plan to build on the weekend's successes and repeat the operation throughout the summer