Youths ride motorbikes across Lordswood Woods and graves in Hollybrook Cemetery

Residents in the Bassett and Lordswood area of Southampton have reported seeing teens riding motorbikes through Hollybrook Cemetery, across graves and the grass area.

Teens have also been seen riding the bikes recklessly through Lordswood Woods and motorbikes have been found dumped or stored in various places in the area along with helmets, cans of petrol and muddy clothing.

Residents have told the Daily Echo that the motorcyclists are "not legal" and often use the surrounding roads as a "race track".

One resident of Springford Road said that the incidents have become more frequent during the coronavirus lockdown.

She said: "It is becoming a huge problem in the area.

"You see the boys three-up on one bike with no helmets chasing around the roads.

"I've seen a bike riding across the graves at the cemetery in the middle of the afternoon, they're disrespectful and dangerous.

"You hear them ragging down all of the roads around here, then through the cemetery before heading up to the woods.

"It gives motorcyclists a bad name, it's only a handful of kids."

Hampshire Police said they are aware of a number of bikes that have been using the cemetery as a place to go off-roading and said that the incidents are being monitored as part of Operation Torque.

Sergeant Rob Morant said: “Officers using the police drone have encountered motorbikes using the cemetery in recent weeks, and the drone was used again today (23 April) to track their movements.

"Yesterday officers seized a bike on Winchester Road and the driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and driving without insurance.

"Overall we have seen a reduction in the issue over the last few years and the success has been down to help from the community, reporting incidents to us, providing information, pictures, video and dash-cam footage.

“However, we are not being complacent and will continue to respond to the reports at the cemetery and any issues still present in the Coxford, Millbrook and Redbridge areas."

Sergeant Morant added that the police are relying on the public to report any incidents including who is storing the bikes and where they are being stored, who is riding the bikes illegally, as well as any dash-cam footage, photos of video that has been taken.

This can be reported through 101 or on the Hampshire Constabulary website.