A SHORT-TERM solution to a road closure has re-opened access to a remote community.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's highways partner, Alfred McAlpine, has created a 100-metre temporary access road into Cowbar, near Staithes.

A recent landslip forced the closure of the only road into the small seaside village, which is located at the southern-most point of the borough.

The one-day closure of the unclassified road, Cowbar Lane, which links the village with the A174, was made on safety grounds after highways experts were called in to investigate.

The borough council's cabinet member for strategic planning, development and infrastructure, Councillor Eric Empson, said: "We have explained the situation to the villagers, who accept something needed to be done about the road.

"There was an 80-metre stretch of the lane which had a very dangerous drop of 60 metres down the cliff to the beach. This collapse was as a result of the landslip.

"We only had to close the lane for 24 hours.

"Now we are discussing a more permanent solution to the access problem, with one possibility being utilising council-owned land adjacent to the lane."