POLICE are using anti-social behaviour powers to stop off-road motorbike riders causing annoyance in a village near Darlington.

PC Julian Brown, beat officer for the west rural side of Darlington, told Archdeacon Newton Parish Council on Tuesday that he had received a number of complaints from residents about nuisance motorbikes.

He said: "We have a scheme where, if people are riding bikes on land without permission, they can be dealt with under anti-social behaviour directives.

"We give them a form and the bikes are entered on a register.

"If they are caught again, we can confiscate the bikes.

"The owner then has to pay at least £100 to get their bike back and there is an extra fee to pay every day they are in the compound."

PC Brown also gave his crime report for 2005.

He reported that there had been eight house burglaries, 40 shed, garage and commercial property burglaries, 28 incidents of theft, 29 criminal damage incidents, 12 thefts from motor vehicles and five thefts of vehicles.