IT is one of Britain's most ancient pathways, but it may fall victim to a very modern problem. The Ridgeway is being churned up by four-wheel drive vehicles.

And today a renewed appeal was made for action to be taken before parts of the route are destroyed.

The calls are being led by Olympic gold medallist steeplechaser Chris Brasher.

He stuck symbolic black tape over notices setting out The Ridgeway Code of Respect yesterday.

He followed the symbolic act by urging councils and environmental bodies to ditch the code which he says is failing to stop four wheel drives and motorbikes from ruining the 6,000-year-old road.

Mr Brasher, who is patron of the Friends of The Ridgeway, said use of four wheeled vehicles had increased by at least 400 per cent since the code was introduced 10 years ago, and that its guidelines were now tragically out of date.

"Our move to withdraw our support of the Code of Respect does not mean that we are abandoning the moral high ground, nor are we advocating anarchy," Mr Brasher said.

"Rather we demand a tougher code that would ban non-essential vehicles from destroying this National Trail."

Mr Brasher said the four wheel drivers whom he termed "rural vandals" mocked the words of Swindon writer Richard Jefferies, when he wrote that no one "dare encroach upon" The Ridgeway.

"Sadly today, the ankle-twisting, knee-wrenching ruts caused by vehicular traffic certainly encroach upon The Ridgeway," Mr Brasher said.

"Had the campaign concerned a beautiful listed building, there would have been no question but to protect and conserve it whatever the cost.

"But because it is a very old, wonderful and priceless track it has been ignored and left unprotected from rural vandals."

Mr Brasher's call for a stronger line on vehicles on The Ridgeway echoes that of South Swindon MP Julia Drown, who recently wrote to Swindon Council urging it to ban off road vehicles from its section of the track.

"It is within Swindon's power to take action to close The Ridgeway to off-road motor vehicles," the MP said.

"I think this could be a perfect initiative for Swindon to take up."

But Coun Jemima Milton, Swindon Council's lead member for transport and the environment, instead called on Ms Drown to lobby for a Government ruling on protecting The Ridgeway.

The 85-mile Ridgeway links numerous historic local sites, including Avebury stone circle, Silbury Hill, Barbury Castle, Liddington Castle and the Uffington White Horse. It stretches from near Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire.