DETERMINED horse riders have vowed to start fundraising to improve miles of 'dangerous' riding trails after it was feared the paths would close.

Riders say the bridlepaths through Hodgemoor Woods, between Chalfont St Giles and Seer Green, have become difficult to use as it is too muddy.

They called for a crisis meeting last Thursday as woodland manager Forest Enterprise said they do not have funds to maintain the trails.

Susie Bicknell of the Hodgemoor Riding Association said: "We feel we are making progress and are going to pursue fundraising attempts to raise money.

"The trail is now impossible. My husband's horse sprained its ankle.

"People don't like going in as it is dangerous. That's also to do with the weather, but if we had hard trails that wouldn't happen."

Liz Manley, Recreation Ranger for Hodgemoor Woods, said they cannot afford to make improvements but were working with the horse riding association to improve the woods. She said: "We support the horse riding association fully and are working quite closely with them, and we are working together to improve the woods.

"I believe that yesterday (Tuesday) a digger was in the woods repairing some of the paths."

She added that the path itself will not be closed, but sections of the trail could be taken out and re-routed elsewhere.