A CAMPAIGN group fighting to stop motorbikes and HGVs speeding through the North York Moors National Park has won a major show of public support.

Supporters of Bilsdale Against Noise and Danger (Band) turned out in force to a meeting which was also attended by parish councillors and representatives from the National Parks Authority, Highway Patrol and North Yorkshire Police.

Bilsdale lies in the North York Moors National Park, half-way between Stokesley and Northallerton, and the focus of the campaign is the B1257, which runs between Malton, Helmsley and Stokesley.

A recent survey over 16 hours on the road counted 188 heavy goods vehicles passing through and it was estimated that as many as half of the lorries were using the route as a short cut.

The campaign group, which was set up in June, hopes to be able to convince road haulage companies to use alternative routes to preserve the area's safety and natural beauty.

They also want to see the speed limit on all the roads within the North York Moors National Park reduced to 50mph, greater road safety enforcement, a greater police presence, speed cameras put up along the road and police action taken on noise pollution by motorbikes.

Band's chairman, Ken Braithwaite, said the turn out at the meeting was an overwhelming show of support for the campaign from people living across the North York Moors.

He said: "It was great to see so many of our neighbours in Helmsley attend the meeting.

"Like us all in the area, we are sick of seeing our road used as a lethal racetrack for bikers and a shortcut for HGVs."

A BBC documentary broadcast in November highlighted the rise in the number of biker deaths on North Yorkshire's roads, with 26 bikers involved in fatal accidents in the past year.

The BBC investigation also revealed that there is a new breed of bikers, named the 200-mile-an-hour club, who have been caught racing on public highways.