POLICE have started patrols along a popular walking and cycle route following reports of anti-social behaviour.

Residents have reported issues with a "number of illegal off-road bikes" being used along the Spen Valley Greenway.

Problems have also been reported in the Liversedge and Cleckheaton areas.

Officers from the Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) has already held a number of patrols around the greenway and surrounding areas.

Last November, West Yorkshire Police updated its priorities for the Batley and Spen NPT area.

In Cleckheaton, officers said extra high visibility patrols had already led to "a decrease in the number of ASB related incidents" - including nuisance off-road bikes.

Another newly-added priority is "to target and disrupt the use of off-road bikes in the area by using the force motorbikes to conduct hi visibility patrols and seizing any vehicles found to be used illegally and dealing positively with offenders."

In the NPT's latest update, a spokesperson for the Batley and Spen NPT said: "As part of the NPT Week of Action, officers from Batley/Spen NPT have carried out patrols of the greenway, and surrounding areas, in response to the number of illegal off-road bikes being used in the Liversedge/Cleckheaton areas."