Undercover police officers have been patrolling an Essex country park to hunt out illegal motorcyclists who have been terrifying walkers.

Essex country park rangers reported an increase in bikers racing through the Flitch Way country park from Rayne to Felsted, allegedly abusing the environment and harassing walkers.

Councillors have recruited officers from Shalford Community Policing Unit, who have been scouting the park in plain clothes to catch the riders.

The bikers weekend raids on the park have raised a number of safety concerns, especially when the park is full of families and children.

Residents have been plagued by noise, with the riders flying through the Flitch Way country park, which follows the trackbed of the old railway line from Braintree through Dunmow and Takeley to Bishop's Stortford.

Matt Wilson, Flitch Way country park manager, believes with no licensed tracks nearby, riders have been using the park as a short cut and a race track for their mopeds, quad and road bikes, and off-road trail bikes.

He added: "I fully sympathise that there is no where for them to go but that doesn't mean I want them here.

"When you're walking around a nice country park the last thing you expect to come face to face with is a lunatic on a dirt bike travelling at 40mph who has little respect for other users.

David Beedle, chairman of the Dunmow Town Council downs and commons committee, said: "We would like to encourage people that have got space, especially farmers, to lease their land out to these motorcyclists as an alternative income and hopefully bring an end to the illegal use of the park."

A county council spokeswoman, said: "Safety in the public park is one the county council's primary concerns and the fact that we are working with the police shows how seriously we are taking this issue.

"We are very proud of our country park and we work hard to maintain them. It's a shame that some people are spoiling them."

Published Wednesday September 29, 2004

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