Use right path plea to stop Llandegla and Eglwyseg moor damage

Heather is damaged by route users showing the peat which is then washed away by rainwater to reveal bedrock

Bikers and walkers are being urged to stick to designated paths through heather moorland in Denbighshire to prevent more damage to the landscape.

The council has launched a campaign to stop further deterioration around rural Llandegla and Eglwyseg which is used as a route to Llangollen.

It said people straying off routes was damaging the area and affecting wildlife such as nesting birds.

The mountain bike centre at Llandegla is backing the campaign.

The right path: A mountain bike rider in Llandegla

Councillor Tony Thomas, cabinet member for the environment, said: "This landscape is unique, but it is also fragile.

"We want to protect this unique landscape and prevent any further damage to the paths, the heather moorland and the wildlife that has made the moorland their home."

Ride North Wales and Oneplanet Adventure, which runs the mountain bike centre, are involved in the campaign, which encourages cyclists and other users to stick to official routes.

Improvised paths have caused scarring on Ruabon moors