A SCHEME to cut down on motorbike fatalities in the Durham dales has been hailed as a success.

This summer, nearly 700 bikers in Teesdale and Weardale were stopped and given advice by police about their machines.

The operation, which began in April, has reduced motorbike fatalities in the county by more than 90 per cent when compared with figures from last year.

The operation was carried out by motorbike officers from Durham Constabulary's road policing unit led by Sergeant Bob Brown with PC Mick Alder.

Rural areas such as parts of County Durham and North Yorkshire have become an irresistible draw for born-again bikers who love the challenge of winding country lanes.

Unfortunately, that has led to an increase in the number of bikers being killed or injured on the region's roads.

PC Alder said: "Basically, we just warned them that we were out with the speed camera and just educated them about having respect for the road, other users and also their machines.

"The vast majority of bikers are sensible, mature people. It's getting too expensive for younger people to insure bikes. But there are the odd one or two people who cause a problem."

The operation was carried out after parish councils expressed concerns about the dales being used as a racetrack.

Last year, there was also a large rise in the number of motorbike fatalities in the county, with nine bikers killed on the roads.

Across the border in North Yorkshire the deaths figure was 28.

PC Alder said: "Normally, there are four or five fatalities per year, but it jumped up considerably last year.

"However, this year, touch wood, there has only been one motorbike fatality.

"Teesdale and Weardale are very popular destinations for bikers. It was surprising how far some of the bikers had come."

Inspector Kevin Tuck, of Barnard Castle police, said: "I'm very grateful for the help from the road policing unit. They took the lead on this as they had the correct resources to help us.

"The community in Upper Teesdale felt that it was a form of anti-social behaviour and it was important that we recognised that. The road policing unit gave us a tremendous amount of support. The fact that casualties are down is a firm measure of their success."

Forest and Frith Parish Council regularly used to have problems with speeding bikers.

Parish clerk Kath Toward said she wondered whether the wet summer may have deterred the bikers, but added: "Where I live I don't actually see the bikes, but as parish clerk the number of calls I've received and the comments made there has certainly been less complaints.

"My perception is there has been a reduction in the problem."