LOCAL people and wildlife experts say tearaways on quad bikes are damaging nature and disturbing residents and walkers on a Marske beach.

They are calling for action to stop the youths, thought to be mainly teenage boys aged between 14 and 16 years, who race along a stretch of beach near The Headlands, especially at weekends.

Concerns have also been raised over the use of the bikes at nearby Errington Woods.

Police have warned that it is an offence to use the bikes on the beach, in the woods and the hills as it poses a danger to children, walkers and horse riders.

Coun Madge Moses said: "It's a beautiful area with sand dunes and grassy areas. These people are in danger of damaging all that.

"Residents have complained about the noise when they rev the bikes. One lady told me how frightening it is when you meet them on the pathway.

"It's frightening for people going down there, especially with young children.

"I've heard that parents are bringing the children down to the beach and off-loading these bikes for them."

Coun Moses said she had been told by police that the only place the quad bikes should be used was a motor sports area at Charltons, near Guisborough.

"If this doesn't stop, residents want signs put up on the beach," she said.

Jeremy Garside, chief executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, said the area by The Headlands was a site of nature conservation importance, one of 75 such areas in Redcar and Cleveland.

He said: "The sand dunes are important for bird life, and especially at this time of year, when they are laying their eggs.

"The ringed plover, which is a threatened species, is particularly at risk from this recreational activity because it lays its eggs on the shingle.

"There are also safety issues and the potential damage to the structure of the sand dunes," he said.

Cleveland Police said: "We are aware that there have been several complaints made by people about the use of quad bikes in an anti-social behaviour way. We are making it part of our general patrols to monitor Marske beach.

"Police have also spoken to children using the bikes at Errington woods."