Parks service gets tough on illegal trail bike riding

Illegal trail bike riders are being warned they risk heavy fines if they are caught in the New South Wales north coast region's national parks.

A crackdown in the Tweed area over the weekend saw fines totalling $6,000 issued by National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers.

The service's Lawrence Orel says 18 riders were detained, and the operation is set to expand.

He says illegal riders are often caught using fire trails or even walking tracks.

"It's a public safety issue, but the other risk of course is the environmental impacts that the illegal or irresponsible use can have and that's obviously the erosion and other damage that trail bikes in our natural areas can cause if they're not being used responsibly and on the formed public roads," he said.