FORESTRY Commission bosses are facing fresh calls to crack down on rogue cyclists who ride across environmentally-sensitive sites in the New Forest.

The issue was raised at the Court of Verderers by Brockenhurst commoner Colonel Peter Sweet, who said: "Cycling is still not under control.

"I stopped a family riding across Wilverley Plain and pointed out that they shouldn't be cycling because it was not a way-marked route.

"One of the cyclists said he was a local and knew he shouldn't be there.

"However, he added that everyone knew no action was ever taken against people who were stopped by the Forestry Commission's keepers or rangers.''

Cycling in the New Forest has been a major source of controversy for several years.

In the late 1990s the commission attempted to protect the area by restricting cycling to a network of special trails linking local communities.

Critics soon complained that the trails were being used as a racetrack by some cyclists - while others often departed from the authorised routes.

Three years ago the Forestry Commission warned that people who rode across the grass and heathland could soon find themselves in court.

But the Court of Verderers has continued to receive complaints about rogue cyclists who leave the gravel paths and cycle over the heather.

A Forestry Commission spokesman said today: "Most of the cyclists behave perfectly well and care for the Forest as much as anyone else.

"Unfortunately there are some people who break the rules, but we are doing our best to stop them and the number is decreasing. Taking someone to court isn't something we would do lightly. We'd need a good body of evidence and it could be an expensive exercise.Most cyclists respond to an on-the-spot admonishment, which is the line we normally take.''