A POLICE team set up to tackle nuisance quad and off-road bikes has snared more than 60 machines in its first two months.

The Anti-Social Bike Team targets people riding those vehicles illegally on Bradford's roads.

And since it was set up eight weeks ago, 64 bikes have been seized by officers, 53 Section 59 warnings have been issued, and 42 warning letters have been sent to people associated with using nuisance bikes.

Section 59 warnings last for one year. If the driver or the vehicle are spotted driving or being driven in an anti-social way in that year, the machine can be seized by officers.

Sergeant Jon Best, of the Bradford East Area Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We are very pleased with what the bike team has achieved in such a short space of time, as well as the positive reaction we have had from the public of Bradford.

"We would like to thank them for giving us the information which has enabled us to make these seizures, and helped to make it a more peaceful summer for residents.

"We anticipate fewer reports of nuisance riders as the weather turns colder, but would continue to urge people to use the (01274) 373968 number and provide as much information as they can, particularly if they think they know where the bikes are being stored.

"We will continue to work closely with our partners to identify these nuisance riders, seize their machines and where possible, bring them before the courts."

The police have also worked alongside Bradford social housing provider Incommunities while tackling the problem.

A spokesman for Incommunities said: "We are delighted with the positive results that the bike team has achieved in such a short space of time.

"Incommunities will continue to work with our partners and the police to serve warnings or court proceedings where the police clampdown has produced evidence of bikes causing nuisance to our tenants and residents."

Five men appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday in relation to charges of riding off-road bikes dangerously on Idlethorpe Way and Rockwell Lane in Thorpe Edge on January 19 this year.

Levi Lambert, 21, Kyle Roper, 20, Sean Kirby, 20, Jake Fry-Morrell and David Sparkes, 19, all pleaded not guilty. They are now scheduled to appear at Bradford Crown Court on September 16.