FORTY-FOUR motorcyclists were stopped following a police purge on bikers visiting a popular South Lakeland meeting spot.

Officers from Cumbria Constabulary, in conjunction with representatives from the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), were involved in Sunday's operation at Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale .

Seventeen bikers were issued with delayed prohibitions for issues such as having defective or illegal exhausts, or defective tyres.

Ten were found to have committed Vehicle Excise License offences - not having or displaying a valid tax disc.

Police officers also reported 13 drivers for various offences such as illegal exhaust systems or non-approved visors.

"These checks were carried out as part of an on-going campaign to reduce the number of accidents in Cumbria involving motorcycles," said Sergeant Tony Houlihan, of South Cumbria Mobile Support Group.

"There has been a large number of motorcycle accidents in South Cumbria since the beginning of the year, including four fatal incidents, which causes us great concern.

By using a combination of education and enforcement, we are taking action to improve road safety not just for bikers, but for all other road-users.

"We are also responding to the comments of people living nearby who have expressed concern about the anti-social nuisance created by bikes using illegal exhausts."