A TEMPORARY road closure has been put in place along part of the Settle Loop while the national park authority repairs routes damaged by off-roaders and motorcyclists.

The authority spent around £300,000 last year to make the route, an off-shoot of the Pennine Bridleway, accessible.

A large proportion of that money was spent along Gorbeck Road, from Langcliffe to Malham.

Part of the route is open to all traffic, but there has been concern among officers and members of the national park that people are going off-track and spoiling the countryside.

National park member Coun Wilf Fenten said: "Although the path itself is still alright, many motorbikers leave the route and drive illegally off-route over the moor, damaging its sensitive plantlife and creating deep ruts. It costs the park thousands of pounds to repair.

"What a waste of public money - just because of some hooligans who don't care."

Jon Avison, head of park management, confirmed there was a problem and said the authority was committed to deal with it.

He added: "There is some evidence that motor vehicles are going along the road and then off across the moors causing some damage. We are investigating this as it's obviously causing some concern.

"We have put a temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on part of that road on the Langcliffe end to do repairs which were not done last year. Since last year there has been further damage."

The national park authority took several photographs along Gorbeck Road before they started repair work last year to show the damage and ruts caused by off-roaders.

Gareth Evans, Pennine Bridleway project officer, said signs had been put up to ask people not to ride off-road, but often these were ignored because there were tracks going either side of the signs and across the moors.

"A great deal of money and time was spent along the route to make it accessible for people wanting to enjoy the countryside.

"We have had to temporarily close part of that road in order to carry out further repairs and hope people respect the notice," he said.

Anyone caught falling foul of the TROs can be prosecuted by the police for traffic offences.

The national park is currently working on route maps of all the bridleways and byways open to all traffic in line with the new Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 which is expected to come into operation within the next few weeks.

The act will, among other measures, create a new integrated agency - Natural England - to act as a powerful champion for the natural environment.

It will have responsibility for enhancing biodiversity and landscape in rural, urban and coastal areas and promoting access and recreation.