MOTORCYCLISTS and vandals face fines of up to £20,000 for seriously damaging rare plants and animal life in a Kidderminster nature reserve.

Police and English Nature officers said they were concerned adults and youngsters on motorbikes were causing irreparable damage to the site of special scientific interest known as Devil's Spittleful, off the Rifle Range Estate, by riding across the land. And they warned anyone caught causing damage would be prosecuted.

John Bingham of English Nature said a rare breed of cattle grazing on the land had already been moved after the fence keeping them in was damaged and fireworks were let off.

PC Jim Harris, of Kidderminster Police, added: "It is an offence to cause damage to an SSSI and fines of up to £20,000 can be issued.

"Both the police and English Nature do not want to issue the fines because that will mean damage has been caused - we simply want the damage to stop."

Mr Bingham added: "The site is home to a variety of rare plants and insects and if these are destroyed there is the possibility they won't come back. In a joint project with Wyre Forest District Council we had belted Galloway Cattle grazing on the land in order to manage it in an ecologically sustainable way - but we have now had to move them."

He added council rangers had been working on the land, but went on: "It was surprising for me to learn the people causing the damage a few weekends ago were adults who should understand and respect their local environment better and lead by example."

PC Harris said it was important the SSSI was looked after and urged people not to damage or ride motorbikes on it.

He appealed for anyone with information to contact him at Kidderminster Police on 08457 444888.