TRAIL-RIDERS have discovered an ancient road that could allow them to drive four-wheel drive scramblers across Jonny Wilkinson's garden.

The off-roaders have claimed the legal right to use an 18th Century drovers' road, which leads across the rugby star's land and across the fairways of a nationally renowned golf course.

Northumberland County Council is looking into the existence of the age-old byway open to all traffic, thought to cut through the fairways of the Hunting Championship course at De Vere Slaley Hall, near Hexham.

Slaley Hall estate manager Richard Cheesman has said the discovery could cause problems should the council allow trail riders on the road.

It is thought the byway, which dates from 1771, could cut through the 14th green, the 15th tee, the 17th fairway and the 18th tee.

In January, council officials began to investigate the existence of the byway, which is along the route of an unclassified county highway. In recent years, Slaley Hall has hosted the European tour.

Big-name players such as Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen have all won at Slaley. A number of farms and privately owned homes, including that of England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, 25, may also be on or near the route.

A county council spokesman confirmed the authority was looking into the byway, but said there was some debate about the alignment of the route.