Police have taken delivery of two quadbikes to combat rural crime in one of England's most rural counties.

The 800cc four-wheel-drive vehicles will help Lincolnshire Police track and detain criminals as police officers use them to tackle even the most challenging terrains at speed.

The quadbikes are just one part of a co-ordinated crackdown on countryside crime which also involves 4x4s, police drones, night vision goggles and dog chipping detectors.

    See also: Sharp rise in cost of rural crime

Capable of speeds in excess of 50mph, the quadbikes have excellent suspension enabling them to be ridden on even the roughest ground.

Deputy chief constable Craig Naylor said the machines would be deployed across the county to respond to hare coursing and other rural crimes.

“These vehicles are a fantastic and game-changing addition to our fleet – they will give our officers a much better chance of catching criminals in the countryside,” he said.

“Those that live in the countryside will understand the pain and suffering caused by hare coursing, the despair at thefts of farming machinery and the distress at vandalism to heritage sites.

“These crimes will not be tolerated and our investment over the summer means we are ready to catch and prosecute those responsible.”

One of England's most rural counties, it is possible to drive from Boston in Lincolnshire to Cambridgeshire without using a road.

Lincolnshire was also the county which saw the biggest rise in farm theft last year, according to recent figures published by rural insurer NFU Mutual.

The cost of farm theft in the county rose by 5% to almost £2.5m during 2016, compared to a 4% fall nationally over the same period.

Lincolnshire police and crime commissioner Marc Jones, said: “I pledged to make rural community safety a priority and this investment in quad bikes is an important step in delivering on that promise.

"I am doing everything possible to ensure we find the funds to ensure our force is properly equipped for the task of keeping our communities safe.

"These new vehicles give our front line officers the capability to apprehend criminals wherever they are and will be a crucial tool in the fight against crime."