A PIONEERING scheme to put the brake on off-road riders has been launched in a Bury.

Police have joined forces with Honda (UK), which has supplied two of its new 500cc Foreman All Terrain Vehicles, to help officers track and arrest nuisance riders who bring terror to users of the borough's beauty spots.

Three police officers were this week put through their paces on the quad bikes by Jeff Dodds, a qualified ATV safety Institute instructor and head of marketing with Honda.

The half-day course involved training the officers in pre-ride inspection, starting and stopping, quick turns, hill riding, emergency stopping, swerving and riding over obstacles as well as learning about protective gear, local regulations, places to ride and environmental concerns.

The vehicles also carry a first-aid box.

"There has been a sharp rise in the number of complaints we receive about off-road motorcyclists on the urban and country parks in Bury," explained PC Andy Ferguson, from Prestwich Police Station. "Over the last year we have worked hard to educate people that it is an offence to ride on public land and to direct them to legal off-road sites.

"However, we are still receiving reports of up to 40 riders an hour in some areas. Not only are these riders a danger to walkers, horseriders and cyclists leading to accidents and sometimes confrontations, but they are also destroying the natural environment, which attracts tourists to Bury every year.

"We decided that the best way to tackle this situation was to be more innovative in the way we patrol the urban and country parks in Bury.

"We are therefore thrilled that Honda has agreed to provide us with the Foreman ATVs to give us the access and flexibility needed and hope they will reduce the number of complaints we receive about illegal off-road activity and simultaneously improve the quality of life for people living and working in the area."

Mr Dodds added: "We are pleased to be supporting Bury Police in their bid to cut off-road nuisance. Honda is well aware of the appeals of off-road riding, whether for sport or leisure purposes, but our prime concern has always been safety.

"We hope that the new ATV unit will encourage enthusiasts to ride at legal, well-organised off-road sites and leave the community to enjoy Bury's parks in safety."