POLICE targeting bikers in a speeding blitz discovered they were not the worst offenders on the road.

Traffic officers armed with radar guns were deployed over the Easter weekend with orders to clamp down on speeding.

They were expecting a rash of speeding motorcyclists, but found the majority of bikers behaving impeccably. Instead, the biggest offenders were local motorists.

Extra patrols stopped more than 100 motorcyclists on the country lanes of Weardale and Teesdale in a successful four-day road safety operation by Durham Constabulary.

Only one motorcycle accident was reported in the area over the long weekend. A rider escaped with minor injuries when he crashed near High Force waterfall, in Weardale.

But it was local drivers, not visiting bikers, who came in for criticism after 155 cars and 23 motor cyclists were caught by mobile speed traps and face prosecution.

A significant number of these were people living in the dales area, police said yesterday.

Inspector Dave Hammond, of Durham's road policing unit, said most bikers had reacted positively to officers' advice.

He said: "We were delighted with the response from the motorcycling fraternity and want to thank them for behaving in such a responsible way. They listened to the message and responded very positively.

"We are very grateful for the way that motorcyclists, particularly those from outside the area, conducted themselves on the roads of County Durham. It is a pity that local people haven't heard the same message and don't seem to have proper regard for the areas they live in."

Bike patrols will continue through the summer months in the dales, where seven riders have died and 20 were seriously hurt in more than 50 accidents over the past three years.

Most of the casualties were aged over 30, and eight per cent were over 60. An overwhelming number of crashes involved high-powered machines where speed was a factor.

Earlier this week police in neighbouring North Yorkshire pledged no mercy for bikers caught breaking the speed limits on the region's roads.

Last year, one-in-three road deaths in the county was a bike rider or pillion passenger, despite an acclaimed Bike Safe scheme.

Police now say enough is enough and a strict enforcement regime will replace education and persuasion tactics.

High-profile patrols and action days are being brought into force, with officers focusing on roads with records of serious accidents or complaints of anti-social riding.

These will include the notorious B1257 that links Stokesley and Helmsley and which has been dubbed the TT because of the way bikers speed along the route.

Some roads in the Dales with similar problems will also be targeted.