A CRACKDOWN has been ordered on off-road bikers and arsonists who are targeting a Colne beauty spot.

Land near Knotts Drive has been plagued by mini-moto riders after they managed to bypass security gates at either end of the nature haven.

Coun Graham Roach said: “There have been several cases of motorbikes causing a nuisance down there.

“Unfortunately, by the time the police get there they have disappeared because there are several ways of escaping.

“It has been especially bad at the Briercliffe Avenue end.

"There is a lane that goes down to the houses which they use.

"And during April and May, children have also been setting grass fires there. It is an arsonist’s paradise.”

Insp Jon Fryer, of Colne Police, said he would liaise with neighbourhood beat manager PC Tony Martin, who would begin discuss-ions with developers Persi-mmon Homes over the reinstatement of security gates.

“They put A-frame gates in there but they have managed to break the fencing on either side of the gates to gain access,” said Insp Fryer.

“It did stop this problem for a number of years. We cannot be there all the time so we need to get this sorted.”

The Colne and District committee was told it was vital that access was not restricted for legitimate users of the land, which runs beside the East Lancashire railway line and links the Primet area of Colne to Nelson.

Coun Tony Greaves added: “What we don’t want is for people to be prevented from walking along the old carriage sidings.”