Police have beaten Braintree's reputation as a speed zone for motorcyclists - promoted on the Internet as the place to ride fast.

"Braintree area was advertised on the internet as the place to come and ride as fast as you like," explained Insp Mark Harman of Bocking Traffic police. But he says a hi-tech offensive against the bikers has solved the problem.

"Although motorbikes represent only one per cent of traffic, they account for 15 per cent of accidents," he told a meeting of the police and community consultative group on Monday.

"We hit hard at their high speed and small number plates, which until recently made it very difficult to identify and prosecute them."

Now he says, the number of complaints has dramatically dropped. "Our area is no longer viewed as an easy touch for bikers," he said.

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