A GROUP of motorcyclists were issued with warnings from police after reports of them "whizzing" around Wareham Forest throughout Christmas Eve.

Officers from Purbeck Police were called to the rural location along with the Forestry Commission on the morning of Thursday, December 24.

However, they were unable to locate the bikers.

In the afternoon a further report was made to police about issues in the same location.

A Purbeck Police spokesperson said: "We attended again and upon seeing a colleague they made off back into the forest.

We waited and with the help of one of our colleagues who was off duty, we located one of the riders in his van.

"No bike in sight. So I asked them where the bikes were.

"Looking shocked that we knew who they were, we were then led to the others in the next parking place.

"They were all issued with a section 59 notice and were given words of advice regarding riding them in the forest."

Section 59 of the Road Traffic Act allows the police to give drivers a warning if they are reported to have used their vehicle in a manner which causes "alarm, distress or annoyance".

If reported to have done so again within a year the police have the right to confiscate the vehicle.