COUNCILLORS are delighted that two off-road motorbikes bought to help police collar two-wheel crooks five years ago are at last getting into gear.

The two powerful machines were bought for the borough in the late 1990s with financial assistance from the borough council.

But because of problems of finding officers suitably trained to handle them, the bikes have been stored in Crewe and Winsford for the past few years.

Borough councillors Brian Jones, who will take over as mayor in May, and Mike McCusker, who is chairman of the Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee, have been working behind the scenes for years to get them back.They have now ensured the bikes will be returned to the Port in the next two weeks.

Constable Chris Burnham, of the Chester and Ellesmere Port Traffic Management Unit, said: 'Significant progress has now been made in having these machines returned from Winsford.

'Having been equipped with suitable clothing, two officers are currently undertaking additional training in riding off-road using these machines.

'On completion of their training, the machines will be returned to Ellesmere Port Police Station for use within the borough.'

PC Burnham added; 'Looking for long-term solutions to the problems of youths riding machines off-road, we are also seeking an alternative to enforcement.

'Attempts are being made to identify a suitable site within the borough which could be adopted as an area for supervised off-road activities.'

Cllr McCusker said he was 'delighted' the bikes were coming back to the borough.

But he added: 'It's a shame it has taken so long. These bikes cost a lot of money yet were hardly used. They were in the wilderness for years.'

Cllr McCusker thanked Cheshire's Chief Con-stable, Peter Fahy, and Ellesmere Port Chief Insp Barry Travis, for their efforts in this matter.