RESIDENTS looked on as a crane returned the gates of a cemetery as part of the first stage of its refurbishment.

People have been campaigning for about eight years to have the wall at Eston cemetery repaired and the gates locked to stop vandals.

The 160-metre wall, built in 1860, is suffering from erosion and has been the subject of debate for years as residents and councillors tried to find a way to repair the sandstone structure.

Progress was made on Wednesday as the refurbished wrought iron gates were replaced at the West Lodge entrance and the main entrance, in Normanby Road, by Marske-based fabricator Kastle Engineering.

The company used a mobile crane to replace the gates, working with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's highways partner, McAlpine, which is resurfacing the entrances and strengthening the gates' supporting pillars.

At the time of the gates' removal, last November, the council was hoping to begin a programme of work, drawn up after consultation with concerned residents, on refurbishing the wall, and a detailed report into the options following the consultation has now been completed.

The council's cabinet member for environmental improvement, Councillor Bob Stanway, said: "We are extremely pleased to have completed the first part of this project in restoring and rehanging the gates to provide better security for the cemetery."

Eston Councillor Ann Higgins said: "Local residents have been campaigning for years to get this wall repaired.

"It is those people who deserve credit for this.

"People from a wide area have loved ones buried at the cemetery."

The scheme to restore the wall will be discussed at the next meeting of the South Bank, Teesville and Grangetown Area Environment Committee, on Monday.