JOYRIDERS have left trails of destruction across the ancient Dartmoor landscape — and police and rangers have said this type of anti-social driving is not acceptable.

Vehicles have been driven off-road on a number of occasions in recent weeks around Burrator which left the moorland’s scenic beauty churned up in an ‘unsightly muddy mess of tyre tracks and wheel spins’.

Just before Christmas, 2019, Burrator Parish Council reported an incident of environmental vandalism to the police after someone moved car park boundary boulders at Lowery Cross to access the commons with a vehicle above Burrator lake, causing substantial damage to the ground.

There have also been similar offences on tracks near Princetown, on Walkhampton Common, Long Ash near Yelverton, Longstone Manor and Lovaton village.

The most recent incident occurred on Saturday evening (January 4) at Yenndaon Common and on Ringmoor Common above Sheepstor where tyre tracks left deep skid marks, scars and deep muddy ruts across the landscape (pictured).

Parish councillor Keith Scrivener said: ‘Joyriding on Dartmoor is a regular nuisance in our moorland villages but this is just totally disrespectful.

‘Whoever is doing this needs stopping.

‘They are trashing our landscape with no regard for everyone else. And goodness knows what harm and upset they are causing to the wildlife and livestock on the moorlands when this is going on after dark.’

On social media, local residents have been voicing their anger over the joyriding incidents.

One person said: ‘What can be done to stop this? It’s just mindless vandalism.’

While another said: ‘The damage goes on and on — very sad to see anywhere on Dartmoor but especially in such a beautiful place.

‘Surely someone heard them or knows of those responsible.’

West Devon police inspector Mark Sloman said: ‘This kind of anti-social driving is not acceptable and we will work as closely as we can with partner agencies, including Dartmoor National Park, to try and identify individuals who are responsible.

‘With so many locations being highlighted it is really difficult for police to focus our resources in any particular area so I would ask members of the public to report such incidents so we can at least be aware on which areas are being targeted and respond accordingly.’

Andy Watson, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s head of recreation, access and estates, said: ‘Not only is this type of behaviour illegal, it’s also extremely dangerous, puts people at risk and harms wildlife and livestock.

‘We need help from our communities to identify those responsible so they can be dealt with. We would encourage anyone who knows the people involved to report them to police on 101.’