Off-road bikes seized by police

Forty of the mopeds and quad bikes have been taken by officers after a spate of complaints they were racing around The Lea in Blakenall.

And patrols have also been stepped up in Pheasey Park Farm, Bloxwich and Bentley after similar problems.

See also: Four Black Country councils in boy racer crackdown.

Officers in Bentley say the vehicles are difficult to catch as they often speed off through woodland along paths when they arrive.

Residents have complained about the bikes doing circuits of open land around Bentley so extra police are now being deployed to catch the culprits.

In Blakenall, police have caught groups of youths in the act and have managed to block off their escape to seize their bikes.

And they say they expect even more to be seized in the coming weeks as they continue their campaign.

See also: New barriers installed to deter boy racers.

Another hotspot is Doe Bank Park in Pheasey, where four warning notices have been issued after scooters were seen wreaking havoc.

CCTV cameras have been installed in Collingwood Drive and Beechey Close where there is access to Doe Bank park.

Blakenall neighbourhood policeman Sgt Jim Nixon said: "There are regular high visibility patrols on The Lea and surrounding fields.

"A number of youths have been identified and there is ongoing partnership work with Walsall Council and Walsall Housing Group.

"Where appropriate acceptable behaviour contracts are served on the youths to tackle their offending behaviour.

"These contracts are closely monitored by the Blakenall Team and our partners. To date 40-plus off-road bikes have been seized from The Lea and surrounding areas."

A resident who lives near The Lea, who did not want to be named, said: "This has been a problem for some time now. They race around and make a lot of noise. It's a nuisance. I'm glad the police are doing something about it."