HIGHWAYS officers are getting on their bikes to improve the roads in Worcestershire.

The county council is one of the first authorities in the country to use bike power to investigate reports of problems with the highways.

The council has taken delivery of four BMW motorbikes, which produce fewer greenhouse gases emissions than cars or vans, to enable its highways liaison officers to respond quickly.

Steve Murch, one of the first workers to trial the £10,000 bikes, said: "We look after 2,500 miles of roads and 1,800 miles of footways around the county, which involves checking them on an ongoing basis.

"Trying to get a standard vehicle through a busy town centre to check a possible pothole in rush hour or trying to find somewhere to safely park to repair a defect in the road surface of a narrow country lane are just some of the problems we face each day.

"But by shifting from four wheels to two, we can nip in and out of towns and stay out of the way on rural roads. We can check whether or not a defect is dangerous and take immediate action if it poses a hazard to road users."

Councillor Derek Prodger, cabinet member for environment, added: "What's also good about the bikes is the fact they are very visible. We hope residents will spot them and be reassured that we are constantly striving to keep Worcestershire's roads safe and running smoothly."

The officers, who have received in-house training to use the bikes, will carry small maintenance kits to deal with minor problems such as cutting back small branches, restoring road signs and removing fly posters, but for larger jobs such as repairing potholes, they can call out a team to do the work.

To report a defect call the Worcestershire Hub on 0845 607 2005.