The use of the Island's green lanes by 4x4s has been defended by the secretary of the Isle of Man Four-Wheel Drive Club.
Richard Crane acknowledges the vehicles leave their mark, but says water erosion is the major cause of many of the ruts seen on them.
A new pressure group, 'Green Lanes - Our Heritage' - has called for the lanes to be closed to motorised vehicles, as it says they are causing irreparable damage to the routes.
But Mr Crane says many of the photographs used on the website to illustrate the damage are misleading:
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