THE leader of a mountain biking group believes someone with a grudge is responsible for chopping down trail signs.

The Blackburn and District Mountain Bikers has been working with the boroughcouncil to promote the £45,000 routes around Billinge Woods.

But Nigel Barnes, 47, who has been running the group for 12 years, suspects people who are against cycling have carried out the vandalism.

Blackburn with Darwen Council erected 10 wooden posts with plastic signs pinpointing the newly constructed trails, only to see them ripped out in May.

Their replacements, costing around £3,500, were set in concrete over the summer. But on Saturday Nigel found they had either been dismantled with a screwdriver, of hacked up with a saw.

He said: “It is not scrap metal theft because these signs are not made of metal, and I don’t think it is a random act of vandalism from kids.

“It could be walkers, it could be horse riders, or it could be other groups.

“The trails do use some bridleways in parts, but nobody has come to us and raised any issues. If they did, I’m sure we could discuss their concerns.

“But to find this was a real disappointment. We know where these trails are and they are well used, but the signs are in place to help new riders find them and promote their availability at Billinge Woods.

“The trails were funded by the council as part of its bid to encourage people to ride through to Witton Park.”

Nigel, who works as a nurse at Royal Blackburn Hospital, runs the group of around 30 members aged between 18 and 74.

He added: “It’s pointless damage. Somebody’s got a grudge, but we aren’t going away.”

Coun Damian Talbot, executive member for culture and leisure, said police had been informed. He added: "Any act of vandalism that deprives decent people and costs the taxpayer money to repair is despicable though. We will not stand for it.”