OFF-ROAD bikers have been warned that police are getting tough after two vehicles were seized because their owners were causing a nuisance.

Darwen police are leading the way in East Lancashire by launching targeted enforcement days to stop people riding carelessly and on other people's land.

Vehicles can be seized by officers under new legislation relating to vehicles being used to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to the public.

A quad bike was seized in the Carr Road area and a Metro car removed from the Ellenshaw area after the owner received a second warning about his careless driving, following a previous incident in which he was riding an off-road motorbike.

As part of the crackdown, a barrier has been installed behind Snape Street to stop vehicles riding through to land at Goosehouse, and plans are under way to install another blockade at Jacks Key.

Worst areas for the problem have been named as behind Snape Street, Sunnyhurst Wood, Baileys Field, Eccleshill in Lower Darwen, Cranberry Lane, Ashton Park and Jacks Key.

Officers are warning parents to be careful when buying off-road vehicles for their children.

Sgt Mark Thackeray-Scott said: "They do not realise that you are restricted as to where you can actually use them. You are going to need the landowner's permission.

"If you decide to ride it on the road to and from the land, you need everything from MoT, a driving licence, insurance and a crash helmet.

"We also want people who are suffering nuisance and annoyance due to these off-road vehicles to know that police do have these powers and are taking action.

"If anyone is suffering they should ring us so we can be aware of the hotspots.

"If people pass on the registration numbers we can go and talk to the owners about riding safely. If they ignore the first warning, we will seize the vehicle and it will cost £105 to recover it, which is effectively a fine.

"There's another £12 charge for every day the vehicle is kept and if after 21 days they have not been recovered, they will be lost."

The Darwen operation is part of a wider summer crackdown on off-road biking across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

This also includes officers patrolling hotspots across East Lancashire on specially-modified motorbikes.