A VET has warned there will be road accidents unless bridleways for horse riders are safeguarded and extended.

Guisborough-based vet Jane Davies is worried that while horse ownership has increased across East Cleveland, safe off-road routes for equestrians have diminished.

Mrs Davies is so concerned about the threat to riders' safety that she has helped set up a pressure group.

She said: "If we are not going to increase the amount of off-road routes, I really do feel we are going to be looking at more and more accidents involving horses, riders and cars.

"We have motorists who are very impatient. They need to slow down and they seem to resent that. Some people living in areas where horses go through regularly to the beach or up to woods don't like it."

"There are lot of small livery yards in the area. Horse ownership has increased. There have been accidents locally involving horses and riders. There was a horse killed not that long ago and the rider was injured.

"There are a lot of routes that have been used for many years by horse riders that are down as footpaths and unless they are re-designated and upgraded, the use of these routes could be lost."

The Government has set a deadline of 2024 for the designation of rights of way.

The Saltburn and District Bridleways Group, of which Mrs Davies is treasurer, is working closely with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the Ramblers' Association and cyclists.

"It's a case of trying to get everyone to live together," Mrs Davies said.

Glenda Gosling, who owns Greencroft Livery Stables at Skelton, with husband, Robert, said horse ownership has mushroomed in the last two years, yet riders are being forced to ride on roads.

She said: "Years ago there were lots of bridleways. We always used to ride up on to the moors, but they are now closed up. There are a couple of bridleways round here but you have to ride along the main roads to get to them."