A YOUTH who annoyed villagers by riding noisily around on a quad bike has been warned that his machine will be confiscated if he does it again.

The youth, who has not been named, was stopped by police after riding around a field on the edge of Gainford, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, at the weekend.

He was served with a notice under the Police Reform Act, stating that his behaviour was anti-social and any repeat would lead to the quad bike being seized.

Inspector Kevin Tuck, of Teesdale police, said yesterday: "We hope the notice will put an end to this nuisance and give the village residents some peace."

Twenty other notices have been issued in Teesdale in the past year because of anti-social behaviour with motorbikes or cars. Seizures have followed in a handful of cases.

In County Durham, 635 warning notices have been issued in the past year - 421 involving motorbikes, of which 33 have been confiscated, and 214 involving cars, of which 14 have been seized.

Insp Tuck said: "It is apparent that this legislation is having the desired effect in Teesdale, as well as the rest of the county."