BORED youngsters in Horsforth could benefit from a new BMX park in a bid to stop them from spoiling a local beauty spot and turning it into a race track.

Horsforth Town Council is pressing for a BMX track similar to the one at Yeadon Tarn and is hoping it will be sited at the Cragg Wood Recreation Ground, at the edge of Cragg Wood.

Councillors say there is a possibility that financing could come from a fund set up to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year.

Picturesque Cragg Wood has been targeted by hordes of young BMX bikers, and resident Jack Jowett, who lives nearby, claims that woodland paths have been spoilt and eroded by youngsters building ramps on the paths.

Mr Jowett, a member of Cragg Wood Residents Association, attended a recent Town Council meeting to raise the issue. He proposed the informal BMX track next to Cragg Wood, which would include natural ramps.

He said: "We held a clean up in the woods and discovered the youngsters had been digging up public footpaths and creating ramps so we had to demolish them.

''It became apparent that we needed to do something for the provision of BMX ramps for youngsters - the only other place is the skateboard park at the other side of town.

"I can imagine that there may be a few objections, but the site is well away from houses and from the football pitches. It does not need to be tremendously expensive either."

A 15-year-old BMX biker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We don't mean to cause any damage to the woods but we've nowhere to go. A BMX park would be really good for us. We can use it whenever we want.

"There is a skateboard park in Hall Park so it's fair that we have our own park."

Town Council chairman, Councillor John Brodwell (Ind, Woodside), said: "I think the BMX track is an excellent idea. The town council would like to see it on the Cragg Wood site. I'm sure it would be a valuable amenity for young people."

This week Horsforth and Cookridge Community Involvement Team, a city council group, agreed to look into the feasibility of a BMX track in the town, and will be looking at possible venues.

Chairman Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said he was not aware of the Cragg Wood proposals, but added: "If a site can be found, then I'm personally not against it. We are basically looking into its feasibility, finding out its cost and how it could be funded at the moment.

"We're looking into a number of things to see what we can implement at the earliest opportunity. We need to show people that efforts are being made and that the CIT is not all words."

Cragg Wood recreation ground, which is to the south of Broadway, is owned by Leeds City Council.