A SCHEME that has taught more than 17,000 new motorcyclists to ride on Teesside may have to close its central site due to a spate of break-ins.

Instructors and staff at Cleveland Motorcycle Training Scheme spent yesterday counting the cost of yet another theft from their training site at Teesside Tertiary College, Middlesbrough.

High-security locking systems of the storage unit were breached with professional cutting tools, and seven 125cc motorcycles were stolen, along with helmets and other training equipment.

This incident follows a similar one just four months ago in which ten were stolen. Most of them were subsequently recovered, but were all write-offs.

Neil Ellison, a chief instruction manager from the scheme, said: "The training scheme has been based here for 25 years and has proved a magnificent service to the public in the Middlesbrough area.

"Sadly it is likely we will now have to close as we cannot sustain these continuing losses.

"This is the sixth time I can recall that the training site has been targeted by thieves and vandals.

"We've lost another seven machines but the real losers are the public, who are likely to lose this wonderful service."

The training scheme is a partnership between the four councils in Teesside and volunteer instructors who give their time for free. The scheme will continue throughout the rest of Teesside.

In the past 25 years the scheme as a whole has trained more than 17,000 riders. It operates as a non-profit public service with operating costs being met from training income. The high costs of insurance, repairs to storage units, and security systems mean the training site will only be able to operate for machine-owners for the next few weeks, with ultimate closure now a distinct possibility.

Mr Ellison said: "It is tragic if these thieves are going to drive us out of Middlesbrough. If there is no way we can secure the site we will have to close which means the people of the town lose out."

Anyone with any information about the thefts is asked to contact police on (01642) 302226