Young people are being warned they face a $1,000 fine and risk having their bikes confiscated if they ride on national parks.

Officials at the Department of Parks said they had seen an increase in the number of incidents involving young people riding their motocross bikes across park land during the half-term break.

But they said there were severe penalties in place for people breaking the law, including fines up to $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for a second offence. Bikes may also be seized by an authorised officer without a warrant.

Director of Parks, Lisa-Dawn Johnston, said: "It is illegal to operate motocross bikes in any protected area as the practice is not approved and it is dangerous to other park users.

"Parks staff will be on the lookout for anyone engaged in this dangerous and illegal activity and will contact the Police without hesitation to report any incidents. We hope that members of the community will do the same.

"Parents and guardians should advise their children that motocross bikes must be ridden at the Motor Sports Park at Southside and not illegally in the national parks. It is their safety and the safety of other parks users that concern us most."

Parks experiencing the most frequent infractions include:

¦ Dark Bottom Playground, St. David's

¦ Ducks Puddle Park playground, in Hamilton Parish

¦ Astwood Park, in Warwick

¦ Chaplin Bay, in Warwick

¦ Hog Bay Park, in Sandys

¦ Somerset Long Bay, in Sandys

¦ Railway Trail Loyal Hill, including the Community Playground and Garden next door, in Devonshire

The Bermuda National Parks Regulations 1988, Section 9 state: No person shall, in a protected area;

(a) ride a or drive a vehicle in a manner likely to cause danger to any other person;

(c) ride or drive a vehicle on any part thereof other than a road or a place where such riding or driving is declared to be permitted by notice displayed thereon or in the vicinity thereto;

(h) use such area or a facility thereto for any purpose other than for the purpose for which it was designed or designated.