A CAMPAIGN urging motorcyclists to ride safely and considerately in Monmouthshire is under way.

In a bid to tackle concerns by communities surrounding noise, riders’ behaviour and their safety, the council is taking action during the summer months by putting up temporary warning signs along popular routes used bikers.

The signs aim to warn bikers of the dangers and nuisance caused by inappropriate riding.

The major roads targeted include the Chepstow to Usk road (B4235), the old Usk to Abergavenny Road (B4598) and the A466 through the Wye Valley.

Councillor Bryan Jones, cabinet member for operational services said: "Monmouthshire is a popular destination for motorcyclists and unfortunately this has contributed to an unfortunate number of accidents within the county as well as source of nuisance to the local communities who live along the popular routes."

He added the council has been working with Gwent Police to carry out greater enforcement campaigning and that temporary signs are an additional measure to give the message to riders they are travelling through local communities and to take care but also ride considerately.

The signs will be taken down at the end of the summer but the council will look at future measures to improve road safety and rider behaviour.

Figures released by the council show that there have been ten incidents involving motorcyclists on three popular roads in the past two years.

On the Chepstow to Usk Road two motorcyclists died and one was left seriously injured in accidents between 2009 and 2011.

On the Usk to Abergavenny Road one rider received minor injuries and on the A466 seven motorcyclists received minor injuries and one was left seriously injured during the same period.