WHEN the cones appeared, blocking off one lane, passing drivers expected workmen to appear soon after.

But months went by and nothing was done to the normally quiet country road.

The reason for the single lane and the traffic lights on Cocken Bank, which overlooks Finchale Priory, near Durham City, was a question often raised on radio traffic bulletins.

Now Durham County Council highways chiefs have revealed that the blame lies with a landslip on the embankment supporting the road.

It was caused by the extremely wet autumn and winter, and continued rain has prevented action being taken.

But next month, a scheme to restore two-way traffic to the road, used as an unofficial bypass, between the A167 and A690 and A1(M), will begin.

Highways manager Roger Elphick said: "People using the road since the landslip may have wondered what was happening, but if they had been able to stop and look over the side of the road they would have realised the scale of the problem. There's a very steep drop of around 30 metres into the river, and we nearly lost the edge of the road in the landslip.

"It is a very difficult site requiring a complex solution and in preparing the scheme we have had to carry out a lot of site investigations."

The council's plans to shore up the embankment and repair the road will mean the road will have to be closed for the ten to 15 weeks it takes to complete the work.

Mr Elphick said: "If all goes well the road should be reopened to two-way traffic by September."