Twelve bikers have been killed in north Wales

A delegation of bikers, backed by the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), rode from a bike dealership in Denbigh to North Wales Police headquarters in Colwyn Bay.

They presented deputy chief constable Bill Brereton with a letter protesting at the number of bikers who are being stopped by police.

But Mr Brereton, who is a keen biker himself, tried to persuade the contingent that the police were doing their best to cut deaths and serious accidents in north Wales.

Officers have mounted a zero-tolerance speeding campaign to improve road safety after 12 bikers died in north Wales in the first half of the year, more than the total for the previous year.

The seriousness of the situation was highlighted within hours of the protest starting.

Two bikers, a man and a woman, had to be airlifted to Bangor hospital after their machine crashed on the A470 at the Bala junction of the Dolgellau bypass.

Their injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

'Persecution'

Bikers claim the police campaign is turning law-abiding bikers into unfair targets.

They have complained of being kept for over an hour in lay-bys during safety checks, as well as being booked for minor offences not related to road safety.

More than 100 of the bikers held talks with officers at the headquarters.

We don't deny there is a problem but it's wrong to tar all motorcyclists with the same brush Keith Taylor, BMF

Mr Brereton said the police's campaign, Operation Focus, was just one part of police input and asked for suggestions as to how accident numbers could be lowered.

He told the biking delegation he would try to ensure no one was held for more than 10 minutes in a roadside check.

The protest run was organised by Alan Shepherd, the managing director of A&D Motorcycles in Denbigh.

He said: "I'm involved in this as someone who is passionate about riding bikes, not as a businessman.

"We all want to see casualties in north Wales reduced but the answer lies in education and persuasion directed at the minority of people who are riding badly - not persecution of everyone on two wheels."

'Responsible'

The BMF's regional chairman, Keith Taylor, sits on the North Wales Alliance, an initiative backed by the police designed to tackle motorcycle-related accidents.

He said: "We don't deny there is a problem but it's wrong to tar all motorcyclists with the same brush.

"All we want is for motorcyclists to be treated the same as every other road user.

"Those who ride or drive dangerously, be it too fast or recklessly, should of course be prosecuted, but the vast majority of riders are responsible and safe and merely out for a ride on the wonderful roads of north Wales."