POLICE in Darlington have warned youths causing annoyance on off-road motorcycles that their bikes will be seized.

Inspector Sue Collingwood, from Darlington police, said officers were called to a number of incidents involving bikes on Wednesday.

They occurred in Close Street, Bates Avenue, Gurney Street, Henry Street, James Street, Lock Street, Amiens Close and Jedburgh Drive.

"We are getting reports of off-road motorbikes and mopeds being ridden inappropriately and causing annoyance to residents," said the inspector. "It's a concern across the town. We get calls to Red Hall, Springfield Park, Firthmoor and Skerne Park.

"We assess all the information and when we see a pattern building up we get officers on off-road bikes to target those areas and catch the culprits."

She said residents complained that youths were riding motorbikes often without helmets, along footpaths and roads where children were playing.

"We want these people to ride their off-road bikes in the right areas, not where they cause anti-social behaviour.

"If we have any suspicion at all about the bike or who it belongs to, we will seize it and they will have to prove it is theirs to get it back."

Anyone with concerns or information about youths on bikes is asked to call (01325) 467681.

* Two 14-year-old boys stopped by police on bikes in Jedburgh Drive were being questioned at Darlington police station yesterday.