MOUNTAIN bike riders who are causing serious damage to the landscape and putting walkers at risk should be forced off Ilkley Moor.

That's the view of some walkers, who say cyclists are a scary menace' whose activities are scarring the moor.

Ken Cooke, of Wheatley Road, was contacted about the problem by several neighbours and has seen the sport's effect on the landscape for himself.

Mr Cooke, who recently campaigned for the National Trust to take on Ilkley Moor, has now written to Bradford Council demanding action.

He said: "I've seen the damage that's being done myself. There are bands of a dozen or 15 cyclists going up at a time. You wouldn't think a mountain bike would cause a lot of trouble but when there's a lot of them going up regularly and they start making obstacles and courses for themselves, moving stones around and cutting up the paths, it does a heck of a lot of damage.

"Ilkley Moor is an urban common so everybody, including horse riders, has access to it but technically bicycles are vehicles. That means they shouldn't be on there, but they've been tolerated so far.

"I'm asking if it's time to do something about that. Personally, I don't think mountain biking should be allowed because it's causing erosion and difficulties for walkers."

Fellow Wheatley Lane householder Jan Richards has raised the matter with Ilkley Parish Council. She said: "Over the past few years I have seen a large amount of destruction caused by cyclists but recently there has been a major increase.

"I have seen over the past few weeks places where cyclists have moved stones to make the ride easier for them, but with no regard to the consequences.

"Because large stones have been moved the pathways and surrounding moorland have been churned up and large lumps of the moors are falling away.

"If something isn't done about this soon, with the onset of winter and the rainfall increasing, the moorland is going to suffer even more.

"We are lucky to have all this on our doorstep - let's see if we can preserve it for future generations and not turn it into a combat course for off road cyclists."

Ilkley district and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said: "There is only one legal route for cyclists across the moor, which is the Keighley Road which runs to Whetstone Gate. It is illegal to use cycles elsewhere because the moor is classified as urban common, and we urge cyclists to comply with that law.

"We have not received many complaints but we are monitoring the situation and will take action if necessary. We are also speaking with mountain bikers in the area and asking them not to use the moor.

"We have recently published our draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan and the Ilkley Moor Management Plan and one thing we could consider is making some provision for cyclists to use the moor.

"We urge everyone to look at those plans at www.bradford.gov.uk or at their library or planning office, and let us have their comments."