YOBS who are desecrating a churchyard by riding motorbikes through it and over graves have been branded "disrespectful idiots" by community leaders.

The perpetrators have been condemned and their actions described as "behaviour of the worst form."

The vicar of Holy Trinity Church, in Idle, said rowdy drinkers were also littering the site with cigarette butts and beer cans and irresponsible dog owners failing to clean-up after their pets were causing constant problems.

The Rev Robin Gamble said grass was being churned up by the bikers who were also riding across graves which were no longer marked.

"We work hard to keep the churchyard beautiful. It's like a gift to the whole community, a small urban park - a peaceful oasis where people come to sit and reflect and walk around. There's a special atmosphere and we want to preserve it," he said.

Ward councillor Dominic Fear (Lib Dem) said he and colleagues were aware of the "shocking" anti-social behaviour in and around the churchyard, and also on Idle Recreation Ground, and had raised the issue at ward partnership meetings.

He said Bradford Council was considering extra patrols as evenings got lighter and councillors were working with police, but said the difficulty was catching people.

"These are fast and dangerous off-road vehicles ridden by idiots. If anyone has any information on the offenders, they need to pass it to police.

"The actions of these people are incredibly disrespectful. It’s just bad behaviour, and jeopardises the enjoyment of the area for others.

"Anyone who desecrates a grave, it is behaviour of the worst form. A graveyard should be a place of respect, and these people are damaging the church, and damaging a public amenity," he said.

"It only takes a couple of idiots to spoil what should be a peaceful area for the village."

Jeannette Sunderland, a Lib Dem ward councillor member of Idle and Thackley Heritage Group, said: "It is so disrespectful and I just cannot understand the mentality of people who abuse others’ environments.

"It is not about riding over a grave, it is riding over someone’s body, someone’s relative. It is a complete lack of respect, which escalates into a lot of other bad behaviour.

"It’s almost like a set of unwritten rules of treating others how you would want to be treated yourself are just being ignored.

"All we are asking for is basic respect, and people need to learn that."

A public right of way runs through the churchyard which Mr Gamble welcomes, but he wants people to show respect.

"We've also got a lovely little walled garden that keeps the wind out but it's a major job every morning clearing up all the litter, beer cans, burger cartons and fag ends - it's a terrible shame," he said.

He said police had been supportive, but could not be at the Town Lane site all of the time.

"We're not being a narky old church telling people to keep off our land. We are not telling people to stay away. We want them to come and enjoy it but not spoil it.

"We do get motorbikes driving over the churchyard, and sometimes we get rowdy people in who might have had too much to drink, but the other issue is dog owners.

"Many of them are brilliant and come with their pooper scoopers and bags, but there are some who just don't care and leave it," he said, adding that more and more people were visiting graves.

"This is our little oasis. We want it to be enjoyed by everyone, not spoiled for them. I hope the people spoiling it will show some respect now," he said.

Ward councillor Alun Griffiths (Lib Dem) said added: "This is an area where people come for quiet contemplation, and the graveyard should be a peaceful area where people can pay their respects.

"A small minority of people are making life unpleasant for them, and that is not on."