Motorbikes seized while being illegally ridden on Army ranges around Colchester have been donated to the community.

Two scrambler bikes and a quad bike were impounded after they were being ridden across the Friday Woods and Middlewick Ranges.

As well as posing a risk to troops who are training, the illegal riding of motorbikes is also a hazard to walkers and a noise nuisance to neighbouring residents.

The bikes have been handed over to Colchester borough councillor Dave Harris by Major (Retd) Udai Gurung, Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Commandant East Anglia Training Area. They will be sold to raise funds for community projects by the Berechurch Network Group and Monkwick Residents’ Association.

Maj Gurung said: “Providing the best, safe training facilities for the Armed Forces is the focus of my work.

“We place a high priority on working with the community to enable safe and appropriate access to the training estate for both the public and the military, but unfortunately a small minority use the ranges irresponsibly and ruin it for the vast majority of people.

“The money raised by selling these bikes that we have seized will go back into projects in the community, so this has really turned a negative into a positive.”

Mr Harris added: “In the past we have had lots of problems with anti-social behaviour on the ranges, but it has almost faded away because of the work the Army and community have done together. We’ve shared concerns and produced solutions, while at the same time sending out the message to transgressors that their behaviour won’t be tolerated.”