New laws could see off-road bikes, which are ‘blighting’ the lives of Darlington residents, have to be registered.

It comes after a spike in the number of people using them in anti-social or illegal ways.

A draft bill was debated in the House of Commons on Friday (April 19) which could mean owners have to register their off-road bikes including two-wheelers and quads.

Speaking after the debate Darlington MP Peter Gibson said: “I’m delighted to see this Bill being debated, as the issue of off-road bikes are something I have long campaigned on and the registration of off-road bikes is one of the tools that can easily help to tackle the scourge of this issue.

“Off-road bikes are meant to be used in a lawful manner for off-road biking, trail riding and competition, and I have no desire to stop those legal and lawful activities. I have no truck with lawful use of these vehicles.

“My concerns come from seeking to address the feedback of thousands of my residents whose lives are blighted by these vehicles, and I welcome the Ministers proposal for a task force and trial areas, and I suggest that Darlington might be a great place to have such a trial.

“It is clear as day to me that registering vehicles will help to end the terrorising of our streets and better enable police forces to tackle the problem of these bikes ripping through our communities.

At a meeting earlier this month Durham Police Superintendent Neal Bickford admitted the issue is “horrifically difficult to tackle”.

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He said: “We have tried an awful lot of things. If anyone thinks it’s simple then, politely, you don’t understand the problem.

“I would invite anybody who thinks there’s something that we haven’t tried to get in touch because I’m very open to that challenge. I absolutely understand the frustration.”

Road’s Minister and Hexham MP Guy Opperman said: “I hope to work with the Police Minister and work up plans for trial areas, I’d be happy to come to Darlington to see first-hand the problems and make recommendations to the Home Office for a trial there.”