A POLICE force says it is battling against the odds to try to reduce motorcycle accidents

North Yorkshire Police are two places from the bottom in a league table of areas showing reductions in motorcycle accidents on the nation's roads in 1998.

Three years ago, there were 16 riders killed on North Yorkshire roads. This dropped to ten last year, but has risen again to 15 riders so far this year.

North Yorkshire Police carries out enforcement operations against cyclists most weekends as part of its active Bike Safe Strategy, which received the Prince Michael of Kent National Road Safety Award in 1998.

But a spokesman said the 6,000 miles of roads throughout the county still draws bikers in droves from across the country.

The spokesman said: "The problem of motorcycles in North Yorkshire is well documented, and is continuing despite the efforts we are making.''

The force says that "born again riders" are at the heart of the problem, many of whom are middle-aged businessmen who swap their sensible cars for 1,000cc superbikes at the weekend.

"What we are finding, time and time again, is that the machines are out performing the capabilities of the riders," said the spokesman.

The table, showing the reduction in motorcycle fatalities across the country, put Cleveland top, Tyne and Wear ranked fourth, Northumberland tenth and Durham 13th.

Part of Cleveland's success in the table could be because members of Cleveland's Road Policing Unit give up their own time between shifts and weekends to guide riders, assess rides and road behaviour. Stockton Borough Council also runs its own motorcycle training scheme.

The unit's Inspector Mick Bennett said: "These figures reflect the efforts of several groups of people. Much hard work has been put into educating motorcyclists in our area.'