CRIME commissioner Julia Mulligan has spoken of police determination to tackle motorcycles making illegal noise levels after residents accused officers of failing to crack down on adapted vehicles which have caused them “misery” since lockdown restrictions were eased.

As residents of the Dales national park and surrounding areas braced themselves for a continuation of what some claim has been record numbers of motorbikes, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said residents were being subjected to “alarming and unfair behaviour”.

Her comments follow calls from members of the national park advisory body to launch vehicle-free days to recapture the tranquillity of the strictest lockdown period.

Meanwhile, residents and visitors to the national park have made scores of complaints about motorcyclists using machines with noisy illegal exhausts.

Heather Walker, who lives near Grassington, said she had been suffering “ear blasting” noise from motorbikes from 5am on a weekend morning until dark.

She said: “It’s a real problem. We cannot sit in our garden or have our back door open. Conversation is impossible. We have complained and complained to the police, chief constable and recently the crime commissioner. We’ve had enough. Something has to be done it’s affecting our health, especially in lockdown, where our garden is all we have.”

While some motorcyclists say they are being scapegoated for the actions of a minority other residents said they had collected evidence that some riders were far exceeding the 82 to 86 decibel maximum legal noise level for motorbikes.

Mrs Mulligan said she was aware of the impact that loud motorcycles have for communities and, as people return to the county as lockdown rules are eased, the issues had been raised as “a particular problem”.

She said: “It is a challenging problem to deal with – by the time residents are able to report the situation, the riders have moved on. But it is yet another example of the alarming and unfair behaviour evident in recent weeks. Alarming because we should still be doing all we can to control coronavirus and unfair because people are treating North Yorkshire as a playground and not the home it is for those of us who live here.

“From loud noise from motorcycles to speeding through our rural communities and visitors blocking roads by parking inconsiderately, I know police officers and staff are determined to address these issues and protect our communities. While engaging and encouraging in the first instance, it is absolutely right they then enforce the rules where necessary – not just those related to coronavirus, but through all their powers to keep North Yorkshire safe and feeling safe.”