Routes popular with off-road vehicle riders and drivers are to be monitored by rangers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park and North Yorkshire police.

The joint action days will take place on public footpaths, bridleways and byways in the national park and are aimed at raising awareness of new legislation relating to drivers of motorbikes and 4x4s for recreational purposes.

It will also involve the police checking bikes and other vehicles to make sure they are legal as well as taking action where clear breaches of the law are committed.

Matt Neale, a national park ranger, said: "There is now plenty of information available explaining exactly where off-road enthusiasts can go and what is legally required of them."

He added that a free trail bike leaflet, Trail Riding in the Yorkshire Dales, had been produced to explain the new rules and could be obtained from some petrol stations and cafés in and around the national park and on the park website.