It was a busy weekend for the police task force who were out and about tackling off-road biking issues.

On Saturday morning, officers from Rossendale's rural taskforce carried out a number of stops on vans after receiving reports that bikes were being transported into the area in the back of such vehicles for the purpose of being ridden illegally on the moors.

Despite not discovering any such activity, police did stop several vehicles and found two drivers with no insurance, one with no licence, and a motorist driving while disqualified.

They also seized one van and arrested a person who was on recall to prison.

On Saturday a spokesperson for the police said: "Rossendale's Rural Task Force have been out this morning tackling the problem of 'off-roading' and road safety.

"The public report to us that bikes are being transported into Rossendale in the back of vans to then be illegally ridden on our moorland.

"As such they have concentrated on stopping vans this morning.

"We are pleased to report that several vans that were stopped were travelling to our local sites where they can be used legally.

"However, within a couple of hours they had reported two drivers for no insurance and one with no licence.

"Reported another for driving while disqualified, seized one van and then arrested a person while assisting with a separate matter who was wanted on recall to prison.

"Rossendale Police would ask people that undertake this activity to use legal facilities and not break the law by riding on moorland."