AN investigation is underway after illegal off-road riding caused untold damage to restored areas of the Black Mountains.

Thousands of pounds in grant money had paid for a two-year project to improve peatland areas of the Brecon Beacons close to the Herefordshire border.

But the "hundreds and hundreds of man hours" were trashed in a matter of minutes by people who went off designated tracks this weeks.

The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership Group took to social media to launch an appeal after the damage was caused at the summit of Waun Fach close to Capel-y-Ffin.

"Really disheartening to see this at the summit of Waun Fach today, and the landowner is devastated," the group wrote on Facebook.

"Please help us put a stop to illegal off-roading and the damage it causes.

"If it is safe to do so, please report it."

The group said investigations are ongoing and they have been heartened by the support received.

"We will continue to work with partners and others to raise awareness and understanding of issues such as illegal off-roading, and we welcome the feedback received thus far as to how we could best do this," the group said in a statement.

Waun Fach is the highest mountain at 2,661 feet in the Black Mountains and the third highest mountain in mainland Britain south of Snowdonia.