SPECIAL police bikers are putting the brakes on illegal scrambling in Ramsbottom and Tottington.

The Greater Manchester Police Force's off-road bike unit is to take illegal riders on at their own game as part of a four-day drive to catch them.

Whittingham Drive and Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom and the disused railway line and open land in Tottington's Kirklees Valley are popular haunts for youngsters who continue to break the law by riding uninsured motorbikes.

Their scrambling is proving a nuisance to nearby residents and a danger to unsuspecting walkers.

Picturesque areas and wildlife habitats such as Kirklees Valley are also said to be suffering because of the scrambling.

For the local police the illegal scramblers are difficult to catch and their helmets also make it difficult to recognise them.

The specialist off-road unit is highly trained in riding skills to take up the off-road fight.

Said unit member PC Dave Ball: "We are not just on a level pegging with the offenders but our bikers are in a better condition and are skills finally tuned to ensure we have the advantage on illegal riders.

"Scrambling in non-designated areas is both dangerous for the rider and innocent members of the public, especially when riders are not insured and an accident occurs."

The unit, based in Wigan, gleans information on problem areas through its liaison with local community police and sites are targeted indiscriminately to tackle the problems.

The "softly, softly" approach has been used by Bury's bobbies, cautioning those caught riding illegal machines, but a continual abuse of the laws has now prompted senior officers to take stronger action.

Unit rider PC Derek Baird added: "If riders want to break the law then they will have to be prepared to face the consequences."

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