BIKERS have been slammed for ruining footpaths on Darwen Moor, amid fears the damage will not be repaired.

Signs clearly state cars and motorbike are forbidden on the land, which surrounds Darwen Tower, but walkers have reported several instances of motorbike nuisance.

Coun Jean Rigby of the West Pennine Moors Area Management Committee said the behaviour was ‘appalling’.

Peter Connolly, of St Helens, visited the moors with his wife on Saturday and saw three men on bikes speeding on the footpaths.

He said: “Apart from the obvious noise pollution and general irritation that these people can cause, my main concern is the lack of regard they have for the footpaths on and around the moor.

“The paths become gouged and fill with water.

“Sadly they never recover, and over time they just get wider and wider and even more boggy.

“I understand that given the cutbacks it is difficult to police the situation.

"Often in the name of safety we have a camera on every street corner.

"Perhaps we might consider taking one of these down and putting it in an appropriate position in order to capture their images and prosecute.”

Coun Rigby said: “It’s really, really bad news. They are spoiling the area for the average walker.

“The message needs to be loud and clear - these paths are for walking, not driving.

“Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Council pulled out of funding the West Pennine Moors, and so areas that would have been upgraded now won’t be looked after at all.

“The trouble is, you can’t police this kind of thing, and when damage is caused, there is now no money to do repairs.”

In February, eight men travelling in two 4x4 vehicles had to be brought down from the moor by mountain rescue volunteers after they got stuck in the mud in the early morning.

Calls were made for them to repay the cost of the operation and to pay the cost of repairs to the land.