POLICE on Merseyside have launched a campaign aimed at stamping out dangerous and anti-social driving.

The campaign will see traffic and neighbourhood officers joining forces to target drivers, and to crackdown on those who drive off-road bikes illegally.

Since 1998, 285 people have died on Merseyside's roads, 47 of them this year. Police are to target drivers in the 17-25 age group who are driving unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.

The campaign will see police stopping cars, checking documentation and taking action against those who are driving illegally. Officers will be using secret, unmarked video cars on roads in Merseyside.

Police scramble bike teams will also be patrolling on park and public land across Merseyside.

Merseyside Police's Acting Assistant Chief Constable, Greg Wood, said: "The aim of this campaign is not to target law abiding road users, but to take firm action against those whose actions place other road users at risk of injury.

"There is a minority who use our roads who don't care about the safety of others and this attitude endangers the lives and well-being of all of us.

"Our message to those who drive dangerously and illegally is that we will not tolerate that kind of driving in Merseyside."