GWENT police are launching a campaign to target anti-social motorcyclists. Spearheaded by Sergeant Gary Morgan, of Abergavenny police, the campaign aims to target those motorcyclists who speed, make dangerous manoeuvres or have loud exhausts.

Sgt Morgan, who has responsibility for policing the roads within the county, sees the campaign as a combination of enforcement and education measures, used to reduce road casualty numbers.

They also hope it will address complaints made by people living in the Monmouthshire area.

Over the summer the number of serious incidents involving motorcycles rises, and many people complain about the number of noisy motorcyclists speeding through the area. The narrow country roads are popular with bikers - but the challenging routes must be ridden with respect.

Last summer police launched an initiative, stressing the need for motorcyclists to be safe. Police stationed a wrecked bike at points on popular biker roads to drive home the message.

Sgt Morgan said: "Riders must have the skills - it doesn't take the edge from riding to be sensible and safe.

"Each weekend hundreds of motorcyclists congregate at Abergavenny bus station - they are a good crowd, sociable, but some of them lack rider experience and unfortunately tend to be influenced by the more experienced riders."

To combat these problems, from this month, and through the summer months, Gwent police will have an increased visible presence on local roads at weekends enforcing the law regarding motorcycles.

Using a combination of marked patrol cars, unmarked patrol cars, police motorcyclists and vehicles equipped to monitor speed, the enforcement campaign will operate randomly across the Monmouthshire area for the summer months.

Gwent police will be focusing on a number of safety aspects, including speed and illegal exhausts.

Sgt Morgan is keen to stress the campaign is not aimed at alienating motorcyclists, but about educating them to drive safely, and demonstrating to local residents that their concerns are being addressed.