Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Groups of illegal off-road bikers are decimating Wales's biggest archaeological project, conservation groups have warned.

For the last five years illegal off road bikers have been plaguing the Cwmcelyn Valley in Blaenau Gwent.

Burned-out jeeps and churned-up land are scarring the south Wales valley, which is home to a massive Bronze Age excavation site.

The society responsible for excavating the area have described the long-lasting damaged caused by groups of up to 30 bikers every weekend.

(Image: Ian Fewings)

Ian Fewings, secretary of the Aberystruth History and Archaeology Society , said: "It's every weekend. Last weekend there was 30 bikes up there.

"It's not just local people, it's people coming from all over the place, from Bristol.

"People are saying 'come down here you can ride on the mountains and not get caught'. To get there they're driving though housing estates and on main roads with total disregard.

"They have threatened farmers. It's lambing season and one farmer has found lots of lambs aborted [because of the disturbance]."

Set up five years ago, the archaeology society have discovered hundreds of historic sites as part of the Cwmcelyn Valley Hidden Landscapes Project.

Finds include a Bronze Age village, lost World War One firing ranges of the Monmouthshire regiment, and the unsurveyed Red Ash mine from the early 1900s.

(Image: ABERYSTRUTH HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY) (Image: Ian Fewings)

Mr Fewings said: "There has been two burned-out jeeps there as they get stuck. The farmers have to spent time dragging them down the mountain as the oil is seeping into the ground.

"They are creating these big ditches up there. The mountain is full of cracks anyway and the bikes are taking all the top soil off.

"The water is then permeating and when it freezes the cracks get wider.

"On Mynydd Carn-y-Cefyn there's a carn which is about 4,000 years old which has been total decimated.

He added: "We take people for walks so they can have guided tours but in some places we can't because of the damage.

"We have had to shorten the tours. We are trying to building tourism in the area and boost the economy and this is the way things are going."

(Image: Ian Fewings)

(Image: Ian Fewings)

Over the last two months Gwent Police have received six reports of off-road bikers in the Blaina and Nantyglo area. But none of the reports have been specific to the Cwmcelyn area.

Blaina councillor Lisa Winnett said: "It's all the time, it's an ongoing problem in the area.

"They have been doing a lot of damage on the mountain. The other year they spotted a farmer and sprayed them from head to toe with mud. They have been problems with them riding through fields with flocks of sheep.

"We have a fabulous archaeological programme going on up there - the biggest in Wales.

"But it's also on the Ebbw Fach trial. Sometimes you can have eight bikes going across there at high speed and it's a walking train - it's very dangerous

"Cwmcelyn Park is a nature reserve and you have bikers going round there and doing a lot of damage.

"The police have been working hard and have been very proactive but the problem is catching them. What we need is for people to call 101 when they see it to report it."

(Image: ABERYSTRUTH HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY)

Blaenau Gwent Sergeant, Neil Pigeon said: "Over the last two months, we have received six reports of off-road bikers in the Blaina and Nantyglo area. None of these reports were specific to the Cwmcelyn area.

"For us to effectively deal with illegal off-road biking, there are dedicated patrols on the weekends by our officers with a view to identify areas and any illegal off-road motorcycling. We are also working with our partners agencies to prevent and respond to incidents.

"Illegal off-roading can cause damage to the countryside and riders are also putting themselves and members of the public at risk of injury when they are using off-road bikes in inappropriate areas. I’d like to encourage local residents to call the police on every occasion that they witness illegal off road biking so that we can map the activity and effectively deal with offences.

"We will continue to send out the message that Gwent Police will not tolerate the behaviour by the people who disregard the laws and damage the land and spoil the situation for the law abiding people that enjoy this activity in a legal environment.”

Peopled witnessing off-road biking or with any information about the damage are asked to call 101. Direct messages can also be sent to Gwent Police's Facebook or Twitter social media pages. Alternatively, people can calll Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.