POLICE last night took the unusual step of issuing photos of underage bikers putting themselves and others at risk.

Detectives are urging the public to help them track down the off-road bikers, whose illegal actions are putting people in grave danger.

They have released a series of photographs showing youngsters riding across playing fields and, in one alarming case, chasing horses on the bikes.

Detectives hope residents living near the fields, at Hundens Lane, Darlington, will reveal the names of the culprits so action can be taken.

The pictures were taken towards the end of last month.

Chief Inspector Barry Knevitt, of Darlington police, said the problem had been escalating in recent months. He said: "Enough is enough.

"We have already had animals killed, and the potential for people to get killed because of this is coming more and more to the fore.

"We have got to consider public safety because people's lives are now being seriously affected by this. It is a perennial problem that has been going on for years.

"It is not just Darlington, it is the whole force area that is being affected by this and people are getting sick of it."

He added: "There are various forms of action we can take against anyone doing this kind of thing, and we want the public to take a stand against it because it is affecting quality of life."

Three bikes have recently been seized in police operations, but they are determined to completely stamp out the problem.

The police crackdown comes just two weeks after a pedigree dog was badly injured when it was struck by an off-road bike.

A five-year-old Irish red setter bitch was hit on a bridle path in the Whinfield area of Darlington on May 26.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident and released on police bail.

Anyone who can identify people in the photographs is asked to contact Sergeant Paul Robinson, at Darlington police, on (01325) 346082.