STONE walls are pointing the way to the future for rural villages and market towns in east Cleveland.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's coalition intends to replace urban-style signs in the area which it considers inappropriate for rural areas with small stone walls to carry the names of villages.

Cabinet member Steve Kay said: "It's our policy to put rural furniture in rural areas. What's appropriate for Grangetown or South Bank may not be applicable for small villa-ges and market towns, like Guisborough. Our rural affairs portfolio holder, Bob Stanway, is looking at introducing more such signs to the area."

Small stone walls have already appeared at Boosbeck and Margrove Park, both near Guisborough.