A Northern Irish mountain biker found fishing line strung between trees on trails at Cavehill Country Park yesterday.

Bernard McClure of Cave Hill Mountain Bikers was walking his dog when he found the wire on one of the main lines. The trails at Cave Hill have been sabotaged before, with logs removed from jumps, but this seems to be the first trap deliberately placed to injure somebody.

McKinstry said: “We have found branches and logs in the past, but you are not expecting a fishing line. With fishing line wire, you wouldn’t even see it. It could slice into someone’s throat or, if it caught you on the arm or chest, it could knock you off the bike and cause you a serious injury. I have used these tracks for 10-15 years and I know you have to be careful, but if you were a 17-year-old starting out you might not be expecting it.”

McClure has reported the problem to the police. Belfast City Council released a statement that said it was aware of the problem and had sent wardens out to check the rest of the trails. It said: “In the meantime, we would ask people to be careful and report anything suspicious to the council”

On the doorstep of Belfast, the trails at Cavehill have long been a favourite for Northern Irish mountain bikers. The trails are not officially sanctioned but they did play host to the 2012 Red Bull Foxhunt.

This is the second incident of trail sabotage we’ve reported on this month as trails at the Vitus First Tracks enduro in Rostrevor were blocked with fallen trees and wire strung at neck height.