CYCLISTS have has their bikes marked in an attempt to protect their property from thieves

Police officers stamped bikes with security details at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre on Wednesday.

The event formed part of Durham Police’s Operation Spoke. which has seen more than 6,000 bikes marked.

PCSO Michael Robson, of Shildon police, said: “There’s a general problem with bike thefts across the whole of County Durham.

“A lot of high end bikes are being stolen from garages and bike sheds.

“The message that we’re trying to put across is that if people have their bikes marked then they’ve a better chance of getting them back if they are stolen.

“The people of Shildon seem to be getting the message and lots of people in the town have had their bikes marked.”

Terence Harrison, of College Street, Shildon, was at the centre with his eight-year-old grandson, John Murphy, who had his bike marked.

Mr Harrison said: “It’s to make sure that the bike is relatively safe. If it’s stolen then it improves the odds of getting it back.”

The bikes can be marked with either an ultraviolet pen or with a security code with the details stored on a national database.

Police and bike shops are selling cycle marking kits for £9.90, instead of the normal £20, and details will be listed on the database.

A bike marking session will be held at the leisure centre between 5.30pm and 8pm, on Monday, September 1.

For details of further bike marking sessions call PC Sharon Murray, at Spennymoor police, on 101 or email sharon.murray@durham.pnn.police.uk