A POLITICAL candidate has pledged to treble the number of police drones to help end the 'menace' of illegal bikers terrorising neighbourhoods.

Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate Steve Turner said he will prioritise catching dangerous off-road quad and motorbike riders who bring misery to the streets of Teesside.

Mr Turner has been speaking with officers, residents and councillors about the misery caused by off-road motorbikes across the Cleveland Police area and has drawn up an action plan to stop them.

He said: "The spaces at our doorsteps are where families walk children to school, children play and the elderly expect to feel safe - these places belong to us.

"But for illegal quad and motorbike riders, these places are nothing more than a playground for them to tear through, intimidating residents and putting lives at risk."

Mr Turner said there have been multiple reports this year of quad bike gangs 'tearing up fields' in Stockton and he highlighted the death of a pensioner in Middlesbrough in 2018 who was killed by the rider of an illegal bike.

He said: "Through speaking to victims, community representatives and officers from police forces around the North-East, I have developed a plan to prevent this type of crime and catch offenders - if elected as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner on May 6, I will begin implementing my plan on day one.

"We will treble the number of police drones and operators giving officers eyes in the sky and leaving no place for offenders to hide.

"By using unique DNA sprays, we will identify offenders, link them to individual incidents and prosecute them for any criminal act they commit.

"And upon conviction, we will take any bike or quad involved in crime and have it crushed."

He added that the riders are 'a menace' and have to be stopped.