POLICE are stamping down on people illegally riding off-road bikes.

A new specialist policing team has been set up to tackle the issue across Greater Manchester, with an increase in the number of people riding them recently.

The new Safer Roads Targeting Team will be on hand to assist community officers if off-road bikes are being used illegally in their area.

Officers will be equipped with a fleet of on and off-road bikes and unmarked cars to help them catch the offenders.

Among the areas that have faced problems with off-road bikes in recent months are Little Hulton, north Walkden and Little Lever.

In Little Hulton off-road bikes were being driven down walkways to some of the housing estates in the area.

In Little Lever, people have been riding bikes in the Avenues area and police have previously asked people to send in pictures and details of bikes to help get them off the road.

GMP is now launching a community 'toolkit', giving people information on how they can help police and other agencies tackle the issue.

The toolkit will be readily available on the GMP website to all those who need it with details on what information police and their partners need to take action against those who ride off-road bikes illegally.

It has been launched to help tackle the issue, which has become a big one for residents in some areas.

Chief Inspector Tariq Butt, who heads up GMP’s Road Policing Unit, said: “Off-road bikes being driven illegally are a big concern for us and also for the people of Greater Manchester.

“This new team will help us tackle the issue as effectively as we possibly can, but the toolkit we’ve put together will also enable people to help us do this – we can all take responsibility for our communities and letting the appropriate authorities know what’s happening in them.

"We need people to be active in looking after themselves and their neighbours and this toolkit gives people the information that they need to do this when it comes to off-road bikes.”

Greater Manchester Police currently works with local authorities and and residents to tackle the problem of bikes being used illegally.

Tactics include gating off areas, putting up warning signs or if the problem is persistent, seizing bikes being used illegal and taking them off the streets for good.

The Safer Roads Targeting Team will consist of seven off road bikes based at Eccles but covering the whole of Greater Manchester.

The toolkit includes a reporting form so that people can tell police about issues with nuisance bikes in their area and also asks for photographs.

To view the toolkit go to www.gmp.police.uk/reporting/offroadbikes