GUIDANCE for trail bike riders on which parts of the Yorkshire Dales they can use has been issued.

The free leaflet, which is available at petrol stations and cafes in the national park, aims to reduce conflict between off-road motorbikers and walkers, cyclists, horse riders and landowners.

Publication followed the prosecution of a man who rode illegally on a bridleway at Blea Moor, near Ribblehead Viaduct, in the national park. He was fined 250 with 45 costs by Skipton magistrates in August after admitting breaching the Road Traffic Act.

The leaflet, Trail Riding in the Yorkshire Dales, was produced by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Trail Riders' Fellowship, Natural England, North Yorkshire and Cumbria county councils, the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Beauty and North Yorkshire and Cumbria police.

National park authority spokesman Matt Neale said the idea was to help trail riders to enjoy their rights responsibly.

"The recreational use of motorbikes and other vehicles on certain routes within the national park is a very controversial issue that stirs up feelings on all sides," he said.

"The aim of this leaflet is to set out in clear terms exactly where and how trail bikers can use the byways and unsurfaced unclassified county roads in the national park.

"It explains the legal issues involved and the ways in which riders can help minimise the effects of their sport on the wildlife, the landscape and other users."

Information on individual routes is on the national park website, www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/green_lane_management.htm Authority member Malcolm Petyt, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales Green Lanes Advisory Group, said: "We have been working closely with trail riders to produce this code of conduct to enable them to ride legally and responsibly and we hope it will reduce the number of prosecutions in the future."

PC Harry Carpenter, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The police and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority work very closely to ensure that recreational users of off-road vehicles - motorcycles or 4x4s - are aware of the law and their responsibilities. However, we will take action where a clear breach of the law is committed."