POLICE have seized off-road motorbikes as part of the latest attempt to crack down on anti-social motorbike riders who blight beauty spots in and around national parks.

National park rangers in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales are teaming up with North Yorkshire Police following complaints about off-road motorcyclists riding irresponsibly in isolated areas, including country footpaths, bridleways and forestry tracks.

The clampdown follows new laws being introduced in 2013 to severely restricted the use of many green lanes in areas such as the national parks by 4x4s and motorbikes, after they were found to have caused "catastrophic damage" to historic rights of way.

In one incident that year 15 4ft by 3ft trod stones, each weighing about 50kg, were lifted from Seggimire Lane, at Ugglebarnby, near Whitby, and thrown into a ditch to create an off-road course, leading North Yorkshire County Council to close the route as it had become so dangerous.

The operation also follows a demonstration by a group of 50 motorcyclists in the Yorkshire Dales last year, who highlighted their right to use legal green lane routes, after repeatedly getting stopped and questioned by park rangers and police.

Police said in an operation in the Stokesley and Great Ayton area on Sunday (January 31) the majority of the off-road enthusiasts spoken to were riding legal machines on authorised routes, and were fully supportive of the operation.

One rider was arrested on suspicion of theft after the motorcycle he was riding was found to be stolen and a second machine was seized and the rider reported for summons after being ridden on a public road without a valid driving licence, insurance, MOT or tax.

Police said the irresponsible use of off-road motor vehicles puts members of the public at risk, and was damaging land, particularly following the recent wet weather.

Similar operations are also taking place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Sergeant Nick Hill said over the coming weeks there would be further patrols.

He said: "It was evident that a small proportion of off-road motorcyclists pay no regard to the law on where to ride their machines, how they ride them and the effect their actions have on others.

"It is these people we are targeting – those who are not only behaving anti-socially but are also giving the thousands of law-abiding off-road motorcyclists a bad name."