UNDERAGE teenagers caught riding motorbikes are being been taught basic safety on a new course.

About 20 young people have been taken through their paces at a motorcycle training school run by Duggie Holmes, in Annfield Plain, County Durham.

The scheme has been devised by Derwentside Detached Youth Project manager Lee Ferry and police community support officers Paul Plant and Kay Johnson.

Mr Ferry, of Durham County Council's education in the community, which funds the youth project, said: "These are young people we have met on the streets and built up relationships with. They are good young kids, but just bored.

"We have identified a lot of people under the age of 16 riding motorcycles and decided something needed to be done about it.

"So we devised this course, which is about teaching them how to be safe and about their responsibilities."

The youths are taught basic safety rules and are then shown how to handle motorcycles correctly.

Mr Holmes said: "Because they are not allowed on the roads at all, we are teaching them basic skills safely how to handle bike and be safe.

"They are also taught about protective clothing, so if nothing else, at least they will be safe."

PC Jonathan Hamill, who is one of four officers trained to tackle the menace of off-road bikes on public rights of way, brought his motorcycle for the youths to see.

He said: "We are trying to educate them about where they can and cannot ride and how to do it safely."

Those who complete the course will be encouraged to do an advanced course.