More police officers are needed to stop the 'reckless' use of off-road bikes in Stockport, a Tory candidate has said.

Paul Athans, who's standing to be the next MP for Hazel Grove, has called to boost the ranks of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to clamp down on off-road bikes, and other issues such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Athans said some people are using off-road bikes in a way that is "incredibly dangerous."

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "If elected I will be fighting to up the policing level in Hazel Grove, we have a good neighbourhood level but having more is better.

"Off-road bikes are an issue, I was out last year outside Marple train station and we caught someone on an off-road bike wheeling down the road.

"I've seen people doing things with them like trying to overtake me in the car on one wheel, which is incredibly dangerous.

"Work is going on to tackle this, but more needs to be done."

GMP recently re-established a specialist unit to deal with 'persistent problems caused by off-road bikes' around the region, in a move reflecting growing concerns over the problem (Image - GMP)

The Conservatives recently announced plans to recruit an extra 8,000 police officers around the country.

After the Tories formed a coalition government with the Lib Dems in 2010, the total number of police officers in the UK had been decreasing until 2018.

But since then, the figure has been rising, with more than 7,000 officers recruited throughout 2023 according to Home Office data.

Mr Athans did not say how many extra officers are needed in Hazel Grove, but he wants to see a neighbour police officer in every ward in England.

Paul Athans, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove (Image supplied)

Claire Vibert, Labour's candidate in Hazel Grove, said off-road bikes are making people feel "intimidated and unsafe" in their own communities.

She added: "Off-road bikes are a real issue right across Hazel Grove constituency and come up regularly on the doorstep.

"I've made community safety one of my top priorities for Hazel Grove if elected, and am also really pleased that Labour have a plan for dealing with this issue directly.

"Labour will give police the powers to take bikes off the streets for good, and will rebuild neighbourhood policing which the Tories have dismantled."

Lisa Smart (left), and Claire Vibert, Lib Dem and Labour candidates respectively for Hazel Grove (Images supplied)

Lisa Smart, the Lib Dem candidate in the constituency, said there needs to be pressure on GMP to get on top of the issue.

She said: "I've been working with colleagues to put the pressure on Greater Manchester Police to respond to the off-road bikes problems for some time now, and we have had some progress with the reinstatement of their off-road bikes team.

"In March, I brought together representatives from Greater Manchester Police, Stockport Council, local schools and antisocial behaviour teams, ensuring they were working in coordination to respond to the issue.

"We know how bad it has been in our area. As the MP, I would make sure that message gets through to Greater Manchester Police. The reinstated team needs to be working regularly in our area.

"This kind of behaviour is threatening and unacceptable."

GMP was contacted for comment.