POLICE have launched a crack down on bikers who risk their lives on Lancaster's scenic roads.

Officers are to take tough action against speeding and hand out leaflets on bike safety throughout the month of July.

And police will also use a new undercover motorcycle to patrol rural roads, targeting bikers and other motorists.

Rod policing head Inspector Dave Tuer said: "The tragic trend on our rural roads is that a rider loses control on a bend and either goes off the road or collides with an oncoming vehicle.

"Our rural roads are a magnet for motorcyclists."

"They are welcome visitors, we are not out to harass them.

"Our message is simple, if they are using the roads anywhere in the Wyre or Lune Valley area over the forthcoming months, we'll be watching them.

"We are ready to take a tough line on speed and dangerous behaviour, whether by riders or drivers.

"We don't want riders causing accidents, or drivers causing accidents that might involve riders."

PC Keith Collins, liaison officer for the BikeSafe 2000 campaign, said: "The vast majority of motorcyclists support us in our efforts to curb the anti-social behaviour of a minority of bikers.

"The enforcement motorcycle will provide a further deterrent to the hard core of bikers who continually flout the law."