A VALLEYS rambler says some of Gwent's most beautiful countryside is being destroyed by illegal off-road bikers.

Maggie Thomas, 58, from Crosskeys, is calling on Gwent Police to do more to crack down on people who ride quad bikes and scramblers illegally across public land.

Ms Thomas, a member of the Islwyn Ramblers, claims she was abused by a quad bike rider this week after she told him he was breaking the law by riding on Mynydd y Grug.

She said: "Our hills are being ruined by these selfish people.

"The damage they are causing is disgraceful, and the noise is dreadful.

On Monday Ms Thomas took photographs of a group of five quad bike riders on Mynydd y Grug.

She said: "One of them, an adult male, asked what I was doing. He was fairly aggressive to me and started swearing."

She said two of the quad bike riders were primary school age children.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to drive a motorised vehicle on public land.

Ms Thomas reported the incident and handed the pictures to Gwent Police, who are investigating.

Inspector Robert Doidge of Blackwood said Mynydd y Grug is one of a number of areas known to be a hot spot for illegal off-road biking.

He said: "If areas are identified as problem areas we will deal with it and take action. Off-road biking has to be done on private land with permission - otherwise it is illegal."

He said local police have run several operations with the force's off-road department to target illegal riders, and further operations are planned.