QUAD bikers' deliberate destruction of a Winwick wood has been condemned by councillors and woodland officers.

The vandals removed a tree, positioned to block bikes access to the woods, and then tore around paths destroying a whole area of wild flowers.

Woodland Trust officers needed a tractor to lug the tree across the footpath, which quad bikes were making unwalkable by their constant misuse.

Within two days of being put in position, the bikes had pulled it aside.

Tim Kirwin, of the Woodland Trust, who is working with parish councillors to make the wood and Radley Common a place for families to enjoy, said: "We are really struggling with bikers recently - they seem intent on destroying the countryside. It's a bit soul-destroying when we're all trying so hard to make the woods an enjoyable place for people to visit on foot. We have contacted the police and hope they will be able to give us some help and support."

The Woodland Trust is the charity that owns the wooded area adjoining Radley Common and was working to improve accessibility for walkers and reduce the number of deliberate fires on the site.

Placing the tree was the first phase of improvements. The group is also going to fix fences and remove logs that people use to start fires.

John Gordon, chairman of Winwick Parish Council, says the quad bikers are wrecking what should be an area of beauty for everyone to enjoy.

He said: "It's a public commodity that is being destroyed by the actions of a few. It should be a place for people to enjoy in peace and the bikers' behaviour is deplorable."