POLICE in Gloucestershire are urging owners of off-road motorcycles to keep their hobby legal and safe by taking the right safety precautions when riding their bikes.

The warning follows several reports of anti-social behaviour involving the machines and people riding them around public areas without the proper safety equipment.

Inspector David Collicott from the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit said: "If being ridden on private land, or on the roads with all the correct documentation, the rider's safety should always be considered.

"Wearing a helmet and suitable clothing and footwear is absolutely essential. T shirts, jogger trousers and trainers provide no protection in the event of even a slow speed crash!"

The illegal use of scrambler bikes not only presents a danger to the rider but also to the local community and can cause lasting damage to the natural environment if ridden on public gardens or common land. Any anti-social use of the vehicle can also result in the immediate seizure of the bike.

The owners of vehicles such as scrambler bikes must also adhere to the laws of the Road Traffic Act, which means that in order to ride one in a public place they must have a valid driving licence, insurance, MOT, Type Approval, Road Tax (if it's being driven on road), registration plate and the driver needs to be wearing an 'approved' crash helmet.

Failure to do these things can result in the prosecution of the rider and also the parent/guardian if the rider is under 16-years-old.

Inspector Collicott added; "The illegal use of scrambler bikes will not be tolerated and we urge residents who see them being ridden without the appropriate safety and legal requirements, or in an anti-social manner, to contact the police."

Incidents of this nature can be reported to Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.