AN INITIATIVE to tackle people from outside North Wales using off road and trail bikes at beauty spots has been a success, a police inspector has said.

Officers were in Ceiriog Valley over the weekend as part of Operation Scopa.

The initiative has been devised to target owners, drivers and riders of 4X4 vehicles, off road and trail bikes who are breaching COVID rules and disrupting the local beauty spots.

Wrexham Rural District Inspector Gavin Gilmore explained: "During Lockdown, we have seen a significant increase of reports from local communities, relating to people attending Glyn Ceiriog and Llan DC beauty spots in 4x4s and off road motorbikes.

"The vehicles in question are coming cross border from areas such as Merseyside clearly in breach of current COVID regulations.

"Due to this, tensions have increased locally.

"The operation, which was previously run in the valley, has been reopened to address further reported problems.

"This operation has run between our neighbourhood policing team and our roads policing team.

"Over the past four weekends that the Operation has been running with numerous COVID fines being issued to drivers/riders.

"This operation has been a success, addressing the concerns of the local communities and also preserving the beautiful landscape within North Wales."