TWO Bordon bikers Òtook their lives in their own handsÓ on Monday when they chose to ride around the ArmyÕs firing range during a live-firing exercise.

The motorcyclists, who are thought to be aged between 18 and 25, were spotted entering the range in Woolmer Forest while soldiers were shooting live rounds from rifles and pistols.

Firing immediately ceased and MoD Police were called to the scene, but the two men, managed to escape.

Major Jim Willcoxson, based at Bordon, said that the bikers were lucky to have escaped with their lives.

ÒIt was lucky that we spotted them. They went into a place where they couldnÕt be missed,Ó he said.

ÒThe MoD police tried to catch them but they were too nimble on their bikes.Ó

Senior MoD police officer John Spirit said that officers attended the incident to try and tell the pair how ÒdangerousÓ the ranges were.

ÒOfficers did try to catch the bikers but when they saw the police cars the pair left of their own accord,Ó he said.

ÒThe officers were not able to get the registration number of the bikes because they were moving too fast - that is if the bikes had a registration number because if they were off-road bikes they would not have had one.

ÒThere have been incidents in the past of trespassers going on to the ranges but not any that I know of that involved live firing.Ó

Officers at the Army are concerned that trespassing on the ranges is on the increase and they are concerned for the safety of the trespassers.

ÒIt is extremely dangerous to enter the firing ranges. We do have people entering the ranges frequently though on motorbikes and mountain bikes,Ó said Major Willcoxson.

ÒWe are concerned for their safety because without our seeing them their lives could be at risk.Ó

In an effort to stop the trespassers entering the ÒdangerousÓ ranges, the Army has decided to set up an incident log, which will examine how often joy-riders or mountain bikers enter the range.

The two bikers entered the range at around 2 pm even though the red flags were flying, signalling that a live-fire exercise was in operation and were not cleared off the range until 2-45 pm.

ÒThere is no excuse for not knowing that the ranges are dangerous because there are red flags flying all over the ranges,Ó said Major Willcoxson.

ÒWe need to make an example of the trespassers because we donÕt want to kill anyone.Ó