POLICE have been clamping down on people riding scrambler bikes in an anti-social manner in Ellesmere Port.

The town's local policing unit has been using Selecta DNA forensic coding spray since March to enable police officers and PCSOs to mark riders and their bikes and trace them back to anti-social behaviour at a later date.

The sprays are an invisible dye, which marks the skin, clothing and bike. Officers can then use specialist lighting to identify offenders and link them to a specific incident using a unique DNA code.

Cheshire Police will look to prosecute anyone found to have been marked by one of the sprays or owning a scrambler bike that has been sprayed.

If a scrambler bike is found to have been sprayed on more than one occasion it will be permanently seized by the police.

Officers are now trying to identify five bikes which have come to their attention and are asking residents for help.

They are described as follows:

-Bike one: Predominantly royal blue and with a white number plate sign to the front and white rear panels. It is an off road style bike with red on the inside of the rims, a thicker tyre at the back than the front and no registration plate.

-Bike two: Small blue bike with white on the side panels around the seating area of the bike and silver front forks. Seen returning to the area of Hargrave Drive.

-Bike three: Small green off-road bike with long silver/blue front forks (chopper style).

-Bike four: Dark orange bike with a narrow wheel base being ridden by a male without a helmet wearing a full face mask.

-Bike five: Large 125 white off-road bike with blue on the rear quarter panels. It was being ridden by a male with a white motocross style helmet. It is thought to be going back to the Cedar Avenue/ Maple Avenue area of Parklands.

Sergeant Paul Davis, of Ellesmere Port Local Policing Unit, said: “We are now working hard to identify some of the riders of these bikes and where the bikes are across the local policing unit. If anyone has any information that could help us with our enquiries I would urge them to contact police.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind residents to be vigilant and report any anti-social use of bikes. It is not only dangerous but also affects the wellbeing of the community.

“I understand this type of behaviour is frustrating to have to experience. I’d like to reassure you that we are committed to tackling the problem, working tirelessly to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible.

"We urge you to help us to do that by giving us the information we need by calling us when it's happening and giving as much information as possible.”

Anyone with information can contact Ellesmere Port Local Policing Unit on 101. Information can also be submitted online at https://cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries.

Alternatively, information can also be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.