AN off-road adventure business is facing widespread opposition to its plans to continue operating on the North Yorks Moors.

Planning officials say the 4x4 vehicles are damaging a forest and should not be allowed to continue.

Moorland Adventure Sport (MAS), based at Bickley Rigg Farm, Langdale End, near Scarborough, has applied to the North Yorks Moors National Park Authority for permission to use Langdale Forest for its venture.

The company, which allows clients to drive off-road on more than 80 miles of forest, has operated since 1995 under licence from the Forestry Commission, with temporary planning approvals.

But proposals to formalise the arrangement have produced criticism from councillors, residents and the Ramblers' Association.

West Ayton, Hackness and Harwood Dale and Ebberston and Yedingham parish council have all objected, saying the activity is disruptive to the local community and is damaging the forest.

MAS has submitted four separate planning applications for use of land by all terrain and 4x4 vehicles and use of land and buildings to maintain and store the vehicles.

But national park authority chief planning officer Val Dilcock has recommended that all four be refused.

She said: "There is clear evidence that the activity has a detrimental impact on the forest environment, despite the claims that the system for repair and maintenance has been improved. A number of the unsurfaced routes are badly eroded, rutted and waterlogged.

"Enforcement action will be necessary if the use which is the subject of this application continues."

The authority will decide on Thursday whether or not to allow MAS's operation, known as Langdale Quest, to continue running.

The company says that if it ceased trading, people would still go off-road in the forest.

In a statement in support of the application, MAS said: "Instead of a controlled and well-run business helping to mitigate potential environmental damage, the level of trespass in the forest and legitimate use of vehicular rights of way would inevitably greatly increase."