POLICE in east Durham are planning to put the brake on bicycle thieves in the run-up to Christmas.

Bike owners are being urged to take steps to keep their machines secure following a recent rise in thefts.

To help them safeguard their cycles, owners can from today call into either of the area's two main police stations and pick up free security equipment.

The equipment includes security marking kits, which make it easier for the police to trace the owner if a bicycle is stolen, and bike "passports", where details of a bike, including a picture, can be entered.

Several hundred security locks are also available on a first-come first-served basis.

All the items can be picked up from the front counter at the Seaham and Peterlee police stations.

The locks are restricted to one per household and the scheme has been partly funded by Easington Community Safety Partnership.

PC Graeme Davison, crime prevention officer for the Easington area, said: "We have noticed an increase in bike thefts recently, especially in Peterlee town centre.

"On average, we must be getting at least two reported to us each week, with nine out of ten bicycles having been left insecure.

"We can't realistically expect a five or six-year-old to lock up their bike every time they leave it, but this initiative will hopefully encourage older children and parents to be more security-aware."

Anyone wanting advice on bicycle security is asked to contact PC Davison on 0845 6060365.