A DIRT track in woodland used by illegal off-road bikers has been closed by after complaints by members of a community.

A group of 15 volunteers, including Stanley Town Councillors Les Timbley and Mark Davinson, cleared the track and remove a lorry full of debris from the woods at Quaking Houses, near Stanley.

Residents informed wardens that the track was built during the school holidays, and was attracting anti-social behaviour from noisy and reckless riders.

Cllr Timbey said: “We understand kids need something to do, but the council needs to consider the safety of other wood users and the bikers themselves.

“The track has led to an increase in anti-social behaviour and has been affecting other wood users, such as horse riders and walkers.

“This needs to stop and I’m pleased we have acted so decisively to disrupt and bring an end to this dirt bike menace.”

Concerns had been raised about the track being a safety hazard, endangering both riders and members of the public.

The track littered the woods with several large precarious jumps which had been engineered from large quantities of decaying logs and fly-tipped rubbish.

Community Warden Paul Rutherford, of Durham County Council , which worked the town council and police, said: “During the school holidays anti-social behaviour in and around the woods had seriously increased, with wardens being called to the woods every night that week to disperse the youths.

“We acted swiftly to demolish the jump track and disrupt the pattern of anti-social behaviour in the area.”