POLICE will combine friendly persuasion with hard line law enforcement in a desperate bid to cut the dreadful toll of motorcycle deaths in North Yorkshire.

Officers are planning to hit the road with a new specially-designed safety display caravan, paid for by corporate sponsors, to take their message to a number of popular biker destinations.

North Yorkshire Police chiefs have been spurred by the tragic total of 28 motorcyclists and pillion passengers killed in accidents across the county last year, the highest number of deaths ever recorded.

Traffic constable Dave Burlingham, a keen motorcyclist, said officers were determined to reduce the number of people traveling on two wheels injured on the county's 6,000 miles of road this year.

He said: "We are quite comfortable about combining friendly persuasion in one place with hard nosed enforcement against antisocial idiots in another - the two go together very effectively."

The caravan will make its debut on Sunday in Sherburn-in-Elmet at the launch of National Motorcycle Safety Week, before going on to tour the county.

Keen biker the Rev Graham Taylor, a Cloughton clergyman better known as the author GP Taylor, helped raise funds by auctioning a special edition of his best-selling children's book Shadowmancer.

Mr Burlingham said the caravan will also visit Helmsley market place, Oliver's Mount during race meetings, Scarborough sea front and Whitby.

He said: "Ending this county's horrendous toll of rider deaths is a team effort, and we have an excellent team on board here."

Debbie Molyneux, of York Motorcycle Action Group, who has ridden motorcycles for 18 years and owns two machines, said many enthusiasts would be bringing their bikes out for the first time this month.

She said the group would also be campaigning for safe biking during the National Bike Safe week and that they were planning to publish a report in to the state of York's roads in the near future.

"We try to promote responsible motorcycling. We want people to bike responsibly and sensibly so they can have a good time on the roads for years to come," she added.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, March 23, 2004