Quad bikes are among the vehicles banned from four green lanes

Four green lanes, which were originally used by horse-drawn carriages, have been designated as access only tracks until 1 September 2006.

The vehicle bans were first imposed in 2004 to address concerns that the routes were being destroyed.

North Yorkshire County Council said the bans were needed to preserve the park.

In the meantime, councillors said they will work with the national park authority to develop a policy for the future of all green lanes within the Dales.

Green lanes affected by the bans Mastiles Lane, Kilnsey Topmere Road / Starbotton Cam Road, Kettlewell Long Lane, Clapham Halton Gill, Yockenthwaite (Horsehead)

Jon Avison, from the park authority, said they welcomed the extension but were disappointed that it was not for longer.

"We had hoped that we would not be revisiting the issue on these routes in a year's time," he said.

But he said they were looking forward to working with the council and hoped they could agree that measures like the bans were "an appropriate way of managing sensitive lanes within the national park".