POLICE are set to carry out an operation to put the brakes on motorcyclists breaking the law on private land. Last year police carried out a major clampdown on juvenile and adult bikers illegally riding on land owned by Lord and Lady Pym on the sand hills

POLICE are set to carry out an operation to put the brakes on motorcyclists breaking the law on private land.

Last year police carried out a major clampdown on juvenile and adult bikers illegally riding on land owned by Lord and Lady Pym on the sand hills at the rear of the family estate at Everton Park, Sandy.

Several riders had their bikes confiscated after failing to abide by Section 59 orders warning them not to ride on estate property.

But not only have the bike riders returned to the sand hills with the recent good weather but have also started riding in the Deepdale area of Potton and a track on farmland at the end of Furzenhall Road, Biggleswade.

Officers fear with all the areas being used by walkers and some of the bridleways by horse riders there is a danger of a serious injury accident happening.

Heading the operation to beat the illegal bikers is Pc Lee Prutton, the beat officer for Sandy.

"We had a major problem last year at the sand hills and managed to clear the bikers out. But there are signs they have returned and the agents for Lord Pym's estate have asked us to put a stop to it again," said Pc Prutton.

"The sand hills quarry area is private land and we caught a number of bikers there last year and in the end confiscated a number of bikes after riders ignored the Section 59 order we had given them.

"The order means riders get one warning not to ride their bikes on private land again and if they are caught their bikes will be confiscated and crushed. In some cases we have done that.

"Riders are taking bikes back to the area in the backs of 4 x 4s and other vehicles. We are determined to not allow the problem get as bad as it was last year because the noise generated by the bikes blighted the lives of people living nearby who wanted to sit in their gardens on warm summer days and not hear bikes roaring away in the distance."

With regards to the problems in Sandy and Potton, Pc Prutton added: "Motorcyclists are again riding illegally on either private land or where there are public footpaths and bridleways.

"We have had a number of reports and people have been stopped and given Section 59 orders. But we have had reports of riders going back so this is why we will be carrying out an operation in all three towns to try and stamp out this problem.