RADICAL proposals to confiscate vehicles found tearing up the countryside have been given a mixed reception by national park chiefs.

Labour peer Lord Hardy of Wath is aiming to put forward plans to punish the owners of four-wheel drives and motorbikes that damage off-road routes by seizing the offending vehicles.

The measure comes amid increasing concern that off-road driving is causing considerable damage to the environment, as well as disturbing wildlife and endangering ramblers.

But David Brewster, head of park services for the North York Moors National Park, said the proposal was an extreme solution to a problem that was already being tackled.

He said: "The problem has been slowly increasing over the years but I'm not certain there is a need to go as far as confiscating vehicles."

He added that motorists don't have cars confiscated when they are stopped for speeding on a motorway, so confiscation of vehicles in this situation would be rather drastic.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has welcomed proposals to restrict the use of green lanes to prevent further destruction.

Lord Hardy said the extent of the damage wrought by off-road vehicles was significant and action had to be taken.

He is planning to incorporate the plan into the Countryside Bill when it reaches the committee stage of the House of Lords later this month