Oldham police have issued 30 traffic offence reports and made six arrests during August as part of a crackdown on the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes.

The work is part of Operation Hurricane, a Greater Manchester-wide initiative aimed at reducing the dangerous and anti-social use of these vehicles. The Oldham Neighbourhood Team has been focusing on the issue since July, working alongside specialist operations, the Roads Policing Unit and the Drone Unit.

Residents have repeatedly raised the misuse of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes as a growing concern in Oldham in recent months.

The vehicles are often ridden at high speeds through parks, footpaths, residential streets and other areas not designed for motorised vehicles, where pedestrians, families and other road users may be present. Police say this increases the risk of collisions and serious injury, while the noise and disruption can have a significant impact on people's quality of life and feelings of safety.

As well as the 30 Traffic Offence Reports, officers made six arrests during August. These included four for drug driving, one for dangerous driving and one for theft of a motor vehicle. Two stop and searches were also carried out, which located drugs.

Police Sergeant Tom Layton from the Oldham Neighbourhood Team said: "Neighbourhood policing is all about being visible, listening to the concerns of local people and taking action on the issues that have the biggest impact on communities.

"Tackling the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes is just one part of the work we are doing to keep Oldham's communities safe.

"These vehicles can be extremely dangerous when used irresponsibly. They are often ridden in places where people simply do not expect to encounter a motorbike or quad bike, creating obvious risks for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. A split-second decision can have serious consequences."

Layton said the results reflect the work of officers from the neighbourhood team and specialist colleagues, and that police will continue to take action against those who use the vehicles illegally or anti-socially.

He added: "We are grateful for the support we receive from residents. The information they provide helps us build a clearer picture of what's happening in their communities and allows us to target our activity where it can make the biggest difference."