Bike Insurance

Bikers riding illegally on a coal site in Northumbria are putting their lives at risk, police have warned.

The Follingsby coal site, owned by UK Coal, has become a popular haunt for riders on mini-motos and off-road bikes, but many are riding illegally without bike insurance and other necessary documents.

In addition, the motorcyclists are failing to wear protective helmets, boots or gloves and police have warned that they are both endangering themselves and affecting the quality of life for nearby residents.

Neighbourhood area sergeant Paul Burrows said that the behaviour could lead to someone "getting seriously hurt or even killed" and warned that officers will come down hard on offenders.

"The motorcyclists have no right to be on this site and we're going to do everything we can to clamp down on this dangerous, illegal activity," he pledged.

He added that riders would face arrest for driving offences as well as having their bike seized, and Stuart Oliver, a spokesman for UK Coal, supported the stance.

He agreed that off-road bikes could be "potentially lethal" and said that the company "fervently hoped" that the activity would be curbed.

Five bike insurance customers were issued with warning notices recently for riding in an antisocial manner on a Darlington estate as police across the UK continue to clamp down nuisance riders.

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