A crackdown on the dangerous actions of motorcyclists could see riders ordered off the road within days of being stopped by police.

Three police forces are joining together this month to cut anti-social behaviour by riders in rural areas.

Traffic officers will be using stringent measures to tackle the menace on the North York Moors and are looking to develop a strategy for ordering dangerous riders and drivers off the road in a matter of days.

Police are exploring the possibility of speeding up the court appearances of offenders so, if convicted, they could lose their licence and be taken off the roads almost immediately.

A variety of speed check equipment - both highly visible and from unmarked vehicles - will also be used.

The Bike Safe operation will run from Friday, April 13 to October 31 and involves officers from North Yorkshire, Cleveland and Humberside Police.

The campaign is focusing on the B1257 between Helmsley and Stokesley and the A170 between Thirsk and Helmsley.

Statistics for both stretches of road have shown that excessive speed is the main cause of crashes, with a large number of sports motorbikes involved.

Special Constables will also be carrying out high-profile foot patrols in moors market towns, where residents have complained about riders parking badly and behaving anti-socially.

North Yorkshire traffic sergeant Chris Charlton said: "We are adding a simple and direct message to riders throughout the region - racing is for racetracks. There have been 100 deaths on North Yorkshire's roads in the past six years, including many riders from across the border into Cleveland."