A BIG increase in bike thefts during the school holidays has prompted police to launch a cycle security day.

The holiday has provided rich pickings for bike thieves in Bishop Auckland. In the first seven months of the year police recorded 90 bike thefts, but in July alone, 100 bicycles were stolen in the town and August's figures are expected to be even higher.

Tomorrow, Bishop Auckland police and staff at the town's Halfords store will carry out free security marking on bicycles and offer security advice.

PC Steve Bunker, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "No identification often means no bike unfortunately. With crime in general, sometimes a thief will take the owner to court to decide whose property it is. Unless you can positively identify it, you can't guarantee you will get it back."

The event takes place at Halfords on Bob Hardisty Drive, from 10am to 3pm