Hundreds of visitors to Bradford's historic Lister Park want measures put in place to protect it from repeated vandalism.

Drivers have been blamed for mayhem in the park which has been restored at a cost of £5 million and attracts about one million visitors a year.

Volunteers working to protect the park said the drivers had been responsible for:

Joyriding over one of the bowling greens and ploughing it up doing hand-brake turns

Frightening elderly people by driving fast

Driving over grass verges, drug dealing and dumping vehicles.

The Friends of Lister Park also claim visiting bowling teams have been put off from coming to the park because of intimidation by young men using the car park for drug dealing.

The Bradford Council-run park scooped the prestigious Green Flag award last year for the fourth year running as one of Britain's best green spaces.

But the Friends were presenting a 400-name petition at today's full Council meeting asking for urgent action to tackle the problems and allow people to use it in peace again.

Group chairman Joy Leach said the group did not want a total ban on cars because they believed there should be access for the disabled and elderly.

She said they wanted the 30 new parking spaces put in the park by the Council removing, leaving motorists with existing places next to the bowling club.

"We feel that this matter should be dealt with urgently before it gets even more out of hand," she added.

The group gained £25,000 Council funding a year ago for a traffic calming scheme in North Park Road after a placard carrying demonstration.

Major improvements at the park include the creation of a £434,000 Indian Mughal water garden, revamping the lake, the Victorian band stand and play area and building a new boat house.

The Friends say they welcome measures being taken by the Council to stop vehicles using the park after 5pm but believe there should be careful monitoring throughout the year.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We are aware of the issues which will be considered once the petition is presented."