Abandoned burnt out car removed from Guisborough Forest

The aftermath in Guisborough Forest was complained about by a dog walker whose Facebook post and the accompanying photos suggested some items, most notably a car wheel, had been left behind.

He described how the vehicle must have been driven over the moors and been blocked off by a double gate providing access to the forest, before it was burnt out.

The walker, who said he took pictures of local wildlife and feared the impact on them, said the vehicle appeared to have then been “dragged through the woods” and bits of metal “had fallen off”.

Hutton ward councillor Jemma Joy described the location as Percy Rigg, on the boundary of Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire.

She said staff from the council’s countryside team had removed the remainder of the car after initial confusion over who would be responsible for cleaning up the mess.

Cllr Joy said: “It was a nightmare finding out who it belonged to, Redcar and Cleveland at first thought it was within the boundary of North Yorkshire or the (North York Moors) national park authority.”

The walker, who did not want to be named, described increasing anti-social behaviour in recent years in the area, including “dog attacks, fires, illegal bike trails, motor bikes, gates being left open and fences being destroyed”.

He said: “The state of the woods has gone downhill and this was the final straw, the remains of a burnt-out vehicle.”

A reply to the Facebook post said: “It will end up like Eston hills. 

“A burnt out wasteland. “

But another said:” I think people are being a bit dramatic. 

“Aside from the burnt out car, which isn’t actually in the forest, I don’t really see a problem. 

“I’m in there regularly and it remains a great place to spend time.

“It is certainly still a very popular place with visitors.”