proposals to divert a railway line in order to cut congestion in a town centre have been backed by council chiefs.

Hambleton District Council has supported plans put forward by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) to divert the Northallerton to Stockton line at the north end of Northallerton.

The charity believes such a move would help reduce traffic problems created by the frequent closure of Northallerton's three main level crossings and is planning to take the issue up with Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).

The CPRE commissioned a report earlier this year from students of Newcastle University to investigate possible solutions to the town's traffic problems.

This included proposals for a diversion from the East Coast Main Line, north of Northallerton, beyond the industrial estates. The route would probably cross farming land to connect with the existing line, possibly near the Brompton level crossing.

The council's director of planning and environmental services, Steve Quartermain, is urging support for the scheme, which he said would remove the "physical barrier that exists between the main employment area and the remainder of Northallerton."

But the cost of such a project could run into millions of pounds and Mr Quartermain said a full study would also have to be carried out by Railtrack. He said: "It is anticipated that the main barrier to such a scheme will be cost.

"There is no agreement for a fixed route and therefore it is difficult to predict the exact impacts of the scheme on the surrounding built and rural environment.

"In principle, a proposal to divert the Northallerton to Stockton and Middlesbrough branch line should be of benefit to the town and should therefore be supported."

A meeting between representatives of the CPRE, Railtrack and the SRA is planned for the end of September to discuss the project.

Kerry Pulleyn, of the CPRE, said: "We are having the meeting to arrange our strategy for pursuing what was said in the report.