A CRACKDOWN on mini motorbike riders who cause a nuisance has been welcomed by police and councillors in Bolton.

The Home Office is funding a £200,000 clampdown this summer in 28 "hotspot" areas, including Greater Manchester.

Although sold as toys, the vehicles have loud engines and can reach speeds of up to 60mph.

As part of its campaign, the Home Office has published a practical guide for residents, police and the courts, giving advice on how communities can deal with problems.

An online advertising campaign linked to mini-moto websites will also warn riders about their anti-social behaviour and the consequences.

Cllr Sean Hornby, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever, said today: "I welcome the crackdown on mini motorbike owners who cause a nuisance and drive dangerously on our streets and public open land.

"In Little Lever and Darcy Lever, residents have to put up with this day after day."

Since February, 58 illegal off-road motorbikes, including quad bikes, mini-motos and trial bikes, have been seized by police in Bolton.

Cllr Ismail Ibrahim, Executive Member for Culture and Community Services at Bolton Council, said: "Off-road biking causes misery to many people."

He said a campaign, Operation Restor, had been launched to make people think twice about buying one of the bikes.

Anyone using these bikes on streets and playing fields can be fined and have their machines crushed as well as getting points on their licence even if they are too young to have one.

The points will be added whenever they get a licence.

It is illegal to ride the bikes in any public place and they should only be used on private land with permission. Bolton East Area Inspector Tony Kenyon said: "I don't think people are aware of the consequences of buying one of these bikes," said "They do not realise that some bikes will never be classed as roadworthy so they cannot ride on the road but nor can they ride on private land unless they have permission from the landowner. So as soon as they take the bike out they are, invariably, breaking the law."

Owners wishing to reclaim their confiscated bikes must first pay a release fee of £105 and £12 for every 24-hours of storage.

Those unclaimed after 21 days are destroyed. Out of the 58 bikes seized in Bolton, only four have been re-claimed.

Across Greater Manchester, police have received 26,000 complaints about mini-motorbikes in the last 14 months and officers are now confiscating 20 mini-motorbikes a week. There have been six deaths in the last 12 months of people using the bikes.

The Motorcycle Industry Association estimate sales of mini-moto-type vehicles have increased from 10,000 in 2002 to an estimated 100,000 in 2005.