A CRACKDOWN on off-road bikers in Caerphilly borough netted more than 30 culprits.

The Safer Caerphilly county borough operation was carried out by Gwent Police, the Forestry Commission and Caerphilly council's countryside wardens at Wyllie Tip near Ynysddu and at Pontbren in Newbridge.

The two-day operation earlier this month resulted in police issuing 31 Section 59 notices, or warning notices, to people who were caught illegally-off roading.

Each person also received a referral for an anti-social behaviour order. Two vehicles were seized because their riders had already been given Section 59 warnings.

Combined with a similar two-day operation last month in the same area, a total of 52 people have been issued with warnings and anti-social behaviour order referrals.

Councillor Paul Ford, the chairman of the Safer Caerphilly county borough said: "Those choosing to destroy the countryside with such anti-social behaviour should now know that they are not beyond the long arm of the law.

"We as a partnership are committed to keeping the heat on such offenders. They need to know that their activities are not only undesirable but also illegal and that they risk losing their vehicles if they persist."

Inspector Mike Fleming, who was in charge of the operation, said: "Although we ran the operation in three different locations we also made arrangements to ensure we were able to branch out and respond to any other calls concerning illegal off-roading in the surrounding areas.

"I stress once again that people should contact off-roading clubs which stick to legal routes to get advice on where they should ride, otherwise they could end up having their vehicle taken off them."