DOZENS of youngsters have pleaded with the Army to lift the breaks on a cycling ban at a heathland site near Liss.

More than 100 pupils at Liss Junior School have signed a petition calling for the Ministry of Defence to end its cycling ban on the Longmoor Ranges.

The petition was started by pupil Lucy Munter after some of her friends and family were prevented from cycling on the land by security guards.

A by-law prohibiting the public use of bikes and vehicles on the site between Liss Forest and Whitehill has been in place for several decades.

There are warnings around the site but Army bosses have traditionally turned a blind eye to cyclists, especially those using the perimeter track.

But that has changed in recent weeks and dozens of cyclists have been told to get off their bikes because of an alleged increase in military activities.

For full story, see this Petersfield Herald.