CORONAVIRUS fines have been handed out to anti-social off roaders who gathered on a big field in Bradford at the weekend.

West Yorkshire Police received a number of reports about nuisance motorbikes and a quad bike being used on a playing field just off Shetcliffe Lane, Bierley.

The bikes caused damage to the fields and also caused noise nuisance to nearby residents.

A team attended and a number of males made off from the scene towards Tong Street and Wakefield Road.

Officers spoke to a small groups of males who remained at the scene and they were issued with fines.

Operation Steerside responded to the call out and described the group as "thoughtless".

The team shared photos of the incident which showed deep tyre marks zig-zagging and crossing across the whole field.

A spokesperson for Steerside captioned the photos with: "Damage to the field at Shetcliffe Lane by a group of what can only be described as selfish, thoughtless, anti-social off roaders who have made a total mess and frightened the horses as well as causing noise nuisance to the residents bordering the field."

The group of bikers frightened horses who were grazing on the land as well as causing noise nuisance for the residents bordering the field.

The force added: "We are making follow up enquiries to establish the identity of the vehicle drivers/riders."

Operation Steerside was set-up by West Yorkshire Police in 2016 to crack down on law-flouting motorists.

It initially focused on enforcement against the so-called ‘fatal four’ – speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving and using a mobile phone at the wheel – but its area of work has expanded.

Cllr Michael Johnson (Tong, Labour) told the Telegraph & Argus: "I totally agree with the police these people are selfish and thoughtless.

"They are a minority and their anti-social behaviour is condemned by the decent people of Tong Ward.

"I am pleased with the action the police have taken and are continuing to take to deal with this unlawful behaviour."

Enquiries are ongoing to identify the riders and vehicles in the Shetcliffe Lane incident.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or have any further information is asked to call the police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

You can also visit the website on https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

When reporting details, you should quote log number 1062 of Sunday, March 14.

It follows a number of similar incidents involving nuisance bikers in recent months.

Earlier this month a Cleckheaton football club said it was "disgusted" and "heartbroken" after their home pitch was destroyed by quad bikes.

Tina and Colin Hardy, of Liversedge FC Juniors, say this is not the first time that their Mann Dam pitch has been vandalised, although this is "the worst it has been".

Tina, the junior secretary at the club - which was created after a merger between Cleckheaton Sporting Juniors and Liversedge - said: "Three teams use the pitch, including under 8s and 9s.

"They've been under lockdown but were set to go back on 29 March, but now the pitch is irreparable and there's nowhere for them to play.

"We're all absolutely devastated.

"The pitch is wrecked and we're so dismayed. It's never going to change, we've had these problems for four years."

The same day West Yorkshire Police published details about a man with life threatening injuries after his quad bike collided with a parked car in Farnley.

Meanwhile, in December, a group of young people caused damage to Grade II* listed historic site Undercliffe Cemetery.

The head of the charity which looks after the cemetery said the incident was “soul destroying”. A motorcycle was seen with several youths at the site as the vehicle churned up land.

Allan Hillary, chairman of the Friends of Undercliffe Cemetery, which maintains and restores the 26-acre site, said: “They’ve been doing wheelies on the grass. It is soul destroying for all the volunteers who work so hard to look after the cemetery.

"This cemetery is Bradford’s history in stone."