CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating partial success in their fight to get vehicles banned from what is acknowledged to be Europe's oldest road.

Four-wheel drive and other recreational vehicles are to be banned from using a 30-mile stretch of the Ridgeway from its beginning at Overton Hill during the winter months.

Alun Michael, the Minister for Rural Affairs, told the annual meeting of the Friends of the Ridgeway on Sunday that a seasonal ban on all recreational vehicles using the 85-mile Ridgeway National Trail including 4x4s would take effect from October this year.

He did not say how long the winter ban would last, but it is expected that vehicles will not be allowed to use the Ridgeway until April at the earliest.

All six local authorities covering the route have agreed to implement the ban.

They hope that this will help to prevent further damage by off-road vehicles, motorbikes, quad bikes and 4x4s.

Mr Michel told the Friends: "I am delighted that the Ridgeway management group, representing the highways authorities along the trail, has now agreed to apply seasonal traffic regulation orders on the 30-mile western end of the Ridgeway starting in October.

"This means that for all the winter months, when the surface of the trail is vulnerable in places to damage from motorised vehicles, there will be a complete ban on use by non-essential vehicles.

"I am sure this will help make the difference we all want to see in order to protect the Ridgeway for all users."

Friends chairman Ian Ritchies welcomed the news. He said the group has been campaigning since 1983 for a total ban on vehicles.

Mr Ritchie, who lives in Ramsbury and is himself the owner of a 4x4 vehicle, said: "A voluntary code of respect has been in operation on the Ridgeway for ten years but it has plainly not been working.

"This latest ban is excellent news for all the many walkers, horse riders and cyclists who wish the enjoy the Ridgeway in peace, free from the ruts and the deep mud that make the trail extremely hazardous and unpleasant.

"Although a seasonal ban falls short of the total ban that we have been advocating it is a very big step in the right direction."

Mr Ritchie said records showed that as far back as 70 years ago questions were being asked about vehicles using the Ridgeway.

Mr Ritchie said he is "very, very satisfied" that the traffic regulation order would make vehicular use of the Ridgeway illegal during the winter months.

He said: "We believe the ban will be in force for seven months from October to April each year.

"This is the period when most damage is done to the trail.

"Although it is not the complete ban we were looking for it goes a long way towards it."

Mr Ritchie said the Friends would continue to campaign for a year round ban. "Our ultimate aim is a complete ban," he said.

He said they supported the Swindon South MP Julia Drown who has called for more off-road centres to be established in the area where 4x4 drivers could use their vehicles without causing upset or annoyance to ramblers, horse riders and cyclists.

Mr Ritchie said it was unlikely that a ban on 4x4s using the Ridgeway would cause any noticeable increase in their use of other green lanes.

He said: "The bit of the Ridgeway where the ban will apply is less than 30 miles compared with the 5,000 miles of other routes the off-roaders can use.

"We do not think there will be any significant increase in the use of other green roads."

Steve Gunning from the Wiltshire section of the All Wheel Drive Club said the winter ban would not have a great effect on members.

He said that they already had a code of conduct which prevented them from using routes like the Ridgeway at times when the surfaces could be seriously damaged.

Mr Gunning said: "We have a code of conduct that our members stick to.

"The big problem is with those muppets who go out in their 4x4s and do not have any rules, consideration or code of conduct at all."