Motorcyclists are bypassing metal barriers to ruin a £70,000 community park.

After consulting with local residents on the future of Victoria Show Ground, in the centre of Shotton, Groundwork East Durham embarked on a scheme to transform it into a facility for the community.

The group has planted trees, created paths and carried out drainage work in readiness for a football pitch.

It has also installed tarmac ramps for skateboards and bicycles, and has drawn up plans for other sporting activities.

To protect the area from scrambler and quad bikes, Groundwork put up metal barriers at its four main entries and created narrow access "squeeze points" at other sites.

Despite the measures, the motorcyclists are still getting in and spoiling the park.

Michele MacCallam, landscape project officer for Groundwork East Durham, said: "There's a history of bikes using the site and it's a noise nuisance for people living nearby.

"It also creates a conflict with people who want to use it for access or activities like playing football.

"The potential is there for accidents, and it's causing a great deal of distress to local people."

Ms MacCallam said the metal barriers were introduced following advice from Sustrans, which operates the national cycle network of which the area is part.

"We are going to modify the barriers to make it more difficult for motorcyclists to get through, but they can still lift the bikes over them," she said.

Groundwork also plans to erect signs banning motorcycles and additional police patrols will monitor the area.

"We are hoping that eventually people will realise motorcycling is anti-social and not allowed and stop doing it," she said.

"But it's going to be very difficult to stop those who are very determined," said Ms MacCallam.