A road safety campaign, 'Operation Pit Stop' has been launched in Leeds as figures show 74 young bikers killed on the city's roads in mortorcycle accidents in just three years.

The campaign aims to educate young people, who have started using scooters, about being safe on the roads and has seen police motorcyclists and road officers combine with Leeds City Council's road safety unit to target 16 to 20-year-olds on scooters or bikes who statistically are the most likely to be killed or seriously injured in roads accidents.

The operation has already seen officers visiting schools and colleges as well as patrolling major routes around the city, and over three days last week 82 riders were stopped, with over half warned about the condition of their vehicle or their lack of protective clothing.

Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse from West Yorkshire Police, said: "The casualty figures speak for themselves in terms of showing why it is so important we get the message across to this particular audience. We want them to understand why it's vitally important to wear the correct protective equipment, keep their vehicles properly maintained and undergo proper training before heading out on the roads."