Private security firms will be paid to patrol woodland in Nottinghamshire to deter motorcyclists from riding through forests.

The Forestry Commission has decided to employ security guards after earlier efforts to stop the bikers failed.

It says the bikers are putting people at risk and damaging the woodland environment.

The "scrambling" is also illegal but police resources are too stretched to deal with the problem, a Forestry Commission spokesman said.

Teenage kicks

"Most of our woodland in Nottinghamshire is open to the public and the last thing they expect is some idiot on a motorcycle coming past at high speed," said Paul Barwick.

"It is illegal to bring motorised vehicles on to Forestry Commission land.

"It is also illegal to bring on a vehicle which is unlicensed and untaxed."

He said it cost the Forestry Commission about �30,000 in resources to patrol the woods.

"It is kids I suppose. The core of them are young teenagers on scrambling bikes.

Quad bikes

"There are also professional bikers coming in because they have seen the place advertised on the internet or in magazines."

He said parents even brought in small children on small quad bikes.

The Forestry Commission was discussing with security firms the best way to deal with the problem.

However, he said the cost of employing security guards would mean other projects missing out.