Residents of Up Somborne and Sparsholt, both near Winchester, are worried about plans to upgrade pathways to "roads open to all traffic".

They fear the proposal will damage wildlife and nature conservation and that motorised vehicles will endanger people who already use country paths.

There is also a fear that Strawberry Lane, Up Somborne, will be turned into a rat-run.

But the county council claims it wants to manage the routes so they will maintain their rural character.

Patrick McCullagh, who lives in Strawberry Lane, said: "People are up in arms about this. It seems clear to me that the council's single intention is to allow the Land Access and Recreation Association to drive cars and scrambling bikes through the area. Lara are the proponents of the legislation.

"They are the forum for promoting use and 'upgrading' of the environment for motor sports and motor recreation.

"Several of the bridleways around Up Somborne, King's Somborne and Crawley have been upgraded to become a BoatByway Open To All Traffic.

"This means they can and will be used by vehicles, effectively as roads, early in 2005. The bridleways could be cleared to between 12 and 40ft wide."

Hampshire County Council countryside service has now written to landowners, to the Ramblers' Association, to the British Horse Society and to other user groups.

It has also contacted residents who had expressed an interest. It says it wants to make traffic regulation orders, restricting use to pedestrians, horses and cycleson some, but not all, of the paths.

Some residents have pointed out the inconsistency of regulating some tracks but leaving others unrestricted.

A spokesman explained: "The county council must follow the Road Traffic Regulation Act. There are strict criteria that the routes must fulfil for an order to be imposed.

"For this reason, the council cannot propose applying regulation orders on all the routes in question."

The road traffic orders are reviewed every three years.

It was following government direction that, in 2003 and earlier this year, Hampshire County Council arranged two public inquiries to determine the status of the footpaths.

In both, the inspector concluded that the linked series of paths between Crawley and Hursley, should be "open to all traffic" on the grounds that some were, at one time, main highways.

Landowners are worried about the impact of trail bikes and four-wheel vehicles on their land. One is considering the possibility of a High Court action.

To object to the plans, write to Hampshire County Council countryside service at Mottisfont Court, High Street, Winchester, by Wednesday, December 29th.