LIGHT up this Christmas or risk being fined - that's the message York Police want to get across to cyclists.

Cyclists on the road without lights run the risk of being fined £120 by the courts for not having the required lights fitted/working on their bikes when a set of lights for a bike can cost less than £10

This winter, York Police have been inundated with complaints from members of the public about cyclists not displaying lights.

The police now plan to re-introduce their Cycle Defect Rectification Scheme, successfully introduced in 2002.

If a cyclist is seen on a road between sunset and sunrise without lights they will be stopped and asked to take part. The cyclist is offered the chance to get the cycle fitted with working lights by taking it along to a cycle dealer in York within 14 days of being issued with a ticket.

The dealer will check that the lights are fitted and working and will then stamp the police ticket.

If the ticket is stamped, no further action will be taken but failure to get the ticket stamped could end with a court appearance and hefty fine.

PC John Hebblethwaite said: "The idea is not to overly penalise cyclists but to make them realise that it is very dangerous not to have lights in good working order. In the interests of road safety, we are now asking cyclist's to make sure their lights are working, as we don't want to have to issue anyone with one of these tickets. We just want to educate them that it is very dangerous not to have lights in good working order."

Updated: 10:26 Monday, December 05, 2005