A Police Community Support Officer has urged the public to ‘respect’ animals living on the moors by not using vehicles on parts of the moors that have not been designated for motor vehicle use.

Launceston Police, on their Facebook page, have advised people that use of vehicles on any part of the moors that have not been designated for motor vehicle use is an offence under section 59/60 of the police reform act.

Section 59 of the act allows a constable in uniform, having reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle that is being used or has been used on any occasion in a manner which, is or was causing or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public to issue a section 59 warning or seize the vehicle if that warning is ignored.

Launceston Police said they have had several reports recently of people using motor vehicles on Davidstow and Bodmin Moor.

PCSO Lawrence Hambrook said: “Please take notice and please stop damaging our beautiful moors and have some respect for the animals that live on the moors, it’s their home you are destroying. The moors are a designated and protected area and are Sites of Special Scientific Interest having many protected and rare plants and insects.”