A quad biker has been accused of destroying a beauty spot by recklessly spinning his four-wheeler at the site and churning up land.

Canterbury City Council's head of enforcement says "people feel intimated" by the driver who has been visiting Duncan Down in Whitstable over the past month.

Cllr Ashley Clark (Con) says he snapped the rider last weekend in a bid to catch the person responsible.

"For a month, we have been plagued by a quad bike," he said.

"He has damaged turf on the kids' football pitch where he has been spinning around on there - and damage elsewhere.

"People don’t like it because people feel intimidated by this sort of thing."

The biker's most recent visit was on Sunday, January 8 at about 1pm, but he had also been heard riding around the previous day at lunchtime.

The incident was the final straw for Cllr Clark who was spurred into action to catch who was responsible.

Cllr Clark added: "I knew he had gone up to the stone circle and there was only one way back over a bridge so I put a branch across and waited for him.

"When he came back I snapped him because he had to stop.

"He wasn’t too happy and I told him to get off the site but he told me he was going to throw me in the stream.

"He is a bully boy who wants to do what he wants regardless of the pleasure of other people.

"People with dogs are generally in fear if you have a maniac riding around on one of these things."

He says the issue of nuisance quad bikers is not an issue specific to Whitstable and impacts the entire Canterbury district, which also includes Herne Bay.

"My advice is that if you see anyone doing anything like this is to call police and take any pictures so we can identify these people," Cllr Clark said.

"This place is a nature reserve and not a dirt track.

"People come here to see the wildlife and not see this sort of thing going on.

"It is very illegal but it intimidates decent people and families enjoying the peace and quiet."

Cllr Clark says police were contacted about the criminal damage caused to Duncan Down, which forms part of the Gorrell Valley Nature Reserve.

A police spokesman confirmed the force received a report of anti-social riding which had taken place earlier that day in the area of Duncan Down, Whitstable.

It is understood all parties have been spoken to and officers are liaising with the local council regarding the enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order.

Inspector Paul Stoner from the Community Safety Unit said: "Anti-social behaviour can be detrimental to a community, it is not tolerated and we urge people to report any such incidents to the police or council officers.

"Kent Police supports the council’s use of the Public Safety Protection Orders and under the Community Safety Partnership our officers work together to ensure appropriate action is taken whenever concerns are raised."