THREE people were arrested during the Southend Shakedown event yesterday.

Essex Police dealt with a number of people for driving and other offences as part of an operation on Easter Monday, working with Shakedown organisers and Southend Council to ensure the safety of visitors to the biking event, as well as other road users and members of the public.

A spokesman for the police said: "Our officers carried out high visibility patrols in and Southend, as well as main roads leading into the district.

"A number of motorbike, scooter and quadbike riders not linked to the event were seen driving in an anti-social or dangerous manner.

"We seized two motorbikes, one because the rider had no insurance and the other had been disqualified from driving.

"We attempted to stop a motorbike with no registration plate on the A127 at Rayleigh Weir but the rider got off the bike and ran off. The 20-year-old man from Borehamwood was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and remains in custody for questioning.

"A Nissan Micra was stopped in London Road and the driver, a 19-year-old man from Southend, was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving. He remains in custody for questioning.

"And a 26-year-old man from Croydon was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after his car was stopped on the A13 in Orsett."

Chief Inspector Ronnie Egan said: “The vast majority of visitors to the Shakedown were genuine biking fans and we had worked closely with the council and event organisers to ensure everyone could enjoy the day safely.

“Overall, it was a successful day and we are grateful to the organisers, council, and members of the public for their support.

“Sadly there were a minority of people unconnected to the event who had no regard for the risk they were posing to other people and themselves with the standard of their driving.

“This included some riding the wrong way down roads and pulling wheelies.

“A number of enforcement tactics were at our disposal if required, and our aim was to deal with offenders appropriately while ensuring public safety was not put at risk.”