POLICE have vowed to clamp down on illegal off-road biking after residents have vented their anger about riders causing antisocial behaviour.

Concerns have been raised by people living in Golborne who have reported instances of bikes being driven dangerously in the town.

Officers are taking steps to eradicate the problem.

PC Mick Aspinall, who patrols Golborne and Lowton West, said: "We have received a number of complaints in respect of off-road bikes and we are currently looking at what exactly we can do to stop and discourage this behaviour."

In April, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed details about its Safer Roads Targeting Team (SRTT) which has been working across the borough to tackle off-road bike issues.

The team was launched last year to educate riders about their rights and responsibilities, and to promote the legal use of all off-road vehicles.

It is against the law to use an off-road bike on any land without permission.

At the time, Superintendent Gareth Parkin from GMP’s Wigan Division said: “Off-road bikes being used illegally is a big concern for both police and residents with riders drawn to the disused mining areas across the region.

“Riders need to think safety first and make sure they are informed where they can ride safely and legally, without posing a risk to members of the public responsibly accessing these sites for recreation.

“We remain committed to tackling the very real danger that off-road bikes pose and officers will continue to liaise with the SRTT, focusing on specific problem areas and bringing offenders to justice.

“We encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any illegal activity to us by calling 101."

A "toolkit" has also been introduced by the SRTT team to make it easier to work with communities to build up information and get a clearer idea of what is happening in the borough.

It provides details about how police and partners are taking action against those who ride off-road bikes illegally.

To view it visit gmp.police.uk/offroadbikes.