PART of a popular walking route may have to be diverted because of landslips.

The North York Moors National Park Authority has been told diversions may be necessary to the Cleveland Way, on the coast.

National trails officer Malcolm Hodgson said there had been a significant number of landslips this winter, which had narrowed the path and, as a result, it was likely it would have to be diverted.

It had already been closed because of coastal slippage at Gristhorpe, near Scarborough.

Mr Hodgson said: "Given that the length at Gristhorpe has taken more than two years to resolve, it does leave a question of whether we currently apply the right approach to sorting our coastal problems.

"There is a danger that we could end up "stacking up" our closure points and that walkers will, as a result, lose confidence in following the coastal route of the Cleveland Way."

He said there were also serious problems on the walk at Stoupe Beck Bridge, where a wall had collapsed, and slippage of a bank nearby had caused the steps to collapse and threatened the viability of the bridge.

He said: "The work at Stoupe is essential for the integrity of the trail."

l Meanwhile, £215,000 is to be spent over the next four years developing a network of pathways as part of the North Sea Coastal Path, which involves coastal areas in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Britain