Police are taking to golf buggies to target below-par behaviour.

For extra officers have been on patrol around Elemore Golf Course in Easington Lane, Sunderland, to tackle anti-social behaviour, in particular motorcycle disorder, after complaints from the golf club and local residents.

Hetton and Easington Lane Neighbourhood Policing Team have been using the golf buggies, lent to them by the golf club, to move around the course quickly and identify the culprits.

In addition, extra officers are on foot patrol and using pedal bikes.

The operation forms part of Northumbria Police's summer anti-social behaviour campaign. Neighbourhood Beat Manager, PC Joe Dow, said: "People have been turning up with their motorbikes in vans to use on the paths around the golf course and it's causing a huge disruption to the local community.

"The golf course is a public site and we want the community to be able to enjoy it, not have it ruined by the behaviour of a few individuals.

"It's simply not acceptable that the noise and disorder they're creating affects the lives of those who live near the club and people who want to use it.

"We will continue to target the area and provide a highly visible police presence throughout the summer, and I hope residents feel reassured that we are taking their concerns seriously and doing everything we can to solve them."