OFF-ROAD motorcycles will be used by police officers to crack down on young bikers causing havoc at a Weymouth beauty spot.

Two officers on scrambler bikes will be regularly patrolling the fields between Upwey Railway Station and Teddy Bear Woods in Littlemoor, Weymouth, as part of an operation to stop speeding youngsters using the area as a race-track.

A quad bike and a four-wheel drive vehicle will also be used in the operation as a back-up for the officers using the bikes.

The initiative has been launched after the problem of noisy youngsters speeding up and down in the area and being disruptive was highlighted to the police by members of the public and residents.

They are also concerned about the danger of speeding bikes after a man's dog was run over and injured by a motorcycle.

Police are also hoping to target the problem of stolen cars being dumped and burned out.

The operation is being run by PC Grant Cole, Homebeat officer for the Littlemoor area, and the Dorset Police road policing unit.

PC Cole said the scramblers will allow the officers from the unit to follow youngsters who are on motorcycles and they are also a better mode of transport for patrolling the area than on foot or by car.

He said: "This is an area which is an asset to the community and it is a shame it is being spoilt by a few mindless people. The patrols will be a regular occurrence but we will not be publicising when they will take place so we have the element of surprise.

"This an ongoing problem. We also have 17 dumped and burnt-out cars there and this is another issue we will be targeting."

Sergeant Dave Stroud, of the road policing unit in Dorchester, said he believes the operation will be a success.

He said: "The vast majority of youngsters doing this don't realise they are committing an offence.

"We are obviously concerned about offences being committed as well as the number of calls from members of the public concerned for their safety."

PC Cole said the operation has the backing of tenants of the land the youngsters are using.

He said: "They have told us they do not want, and will not give permission, to motorcyclists to use their land as a race-track."