Reckless off-road bikers are risking lives and tearing up the Fife countryside in the pursuit of fun, it has been claimed.
Children as young as seven are endangering walkers and wildlife and destroying habitats as they race round Wemyss Estate on illegal bikes.
Accompanied by adults, they have even been known to ride through a scout camp set up in the woods just off the Standing Stane road.
There are also fears an ancient bridge, said to have once been crossed by Mary, Queen of Scots, could suffer irreparable damage.
Attempts to stop the mayhem have failed as the bikers have either simply ripped out barriers and thrown them in the river or have created new tracks round the obstacles put in their way.
Their actions will come under the spotlight next weekend, however, when Fife Police launch a day of action designed to deter them.
The community teams from Leven and Glenrothes will join forces on Sunday May 26, armed with a raft of legislation giving them the power to press charges, impose anti-social behaviour orders or confiscate bikes without negotiation.
Leaflets publicising the event will be distributed beforehand so people cannot use the excuse they did not know it was happening.
The move has been welcomed by local people, including MSP David Torrance and Councillor Jim Young, who have received a huge number of complaints about the motorbikes.
PC Ian Laing, Fife Constabulary’s wildlife crime officer, said dozens of people were responsible, travelling from as far afield as Falkirk and Dundee and parking at a farm near Coaltown of Balgonie, before heading east towards Thornton bing and the Earlseat opencast site.
“There’s damage to the environment, damage to habitats and wildlife particularly ground-nesting birds and sand martins and they are endangering walkers,” he said.
“There is also the potential risk to the bikers themselves. There are no facilities for medical care should they come to hurt themselves and much of the area is inaccessible for emergency services vehicles.
“Barrier methods have been tried but these have either been destroyed or they’ve found a way round them and they are endangering families out for a walk at weekends.”
Mr Laing said there were also fears that the bikers could be injured by parties shooting on the estate.
“The estate is used for other pursuits, including a very active and very responsible shooting syndicate, and they have voiced concern about carrying out their lawful pursuits when there is this unknown quantity moving around.”
Mr Torrance told The Courier it was only a matter of time before there was a serious accident caused by a speeding motorbike. The MSP is also a scout leader and regularly takes groups to Wemyss Estate to camp.
“It’s absolutely atrocious,” he said. “I’ve seen the speed the motorbikes are doing, haring round and across the campsites.
“They have no consideration at all for members of the public out enjoying the estate, nor for the wildlife and habitats.
“They are just destroying everything and are vandalising everything that’s put up to try to stop them,” he added.
Mr Young welcomed the day of action, saying he had expressed concern about the bikes for many years.
“It is one of the top complaints I and my fellow Levenmouth councillors get from constituents,” he said.
“They are actually putting people off going for a walk in the woods. They are destroying the wildlife and putting people at risk so I enthusiastically support any attempts to put a stop to it.”