ANGER over a Cleveland road closure boiled over this week.

As campaigners in Nunthorpe created a "chicane" to drive home their point, two councils fought a war of words over the closure decision.

A public meeting has now been called to consider ways of overturning the closure of the village's Gypsy Lane.

Residents around The Avenue used four or five cars to create a morning rush-hour chicane. The move sparked traffic chaos and protesters have warned they could strike again in the bid to get Gypsy Lane re-opened.

Nunthorpe action group chairman Mr Stan Robson said: "People are very angry."

Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils were embroiled in a fresh row over the road.

Middlesbrough council leader, Coun Ken Walker, has backed residents demanding the reversal of the closure - brought into permanent effect after a 12-month trial by Redcar and Cleveland on its section of the road.

Residents had complained that drivers were using Gypsy Lane as a rat-run and creating a safety hazard.

But people living elsewhere oppose the closure. They say traffic is merely shunted on to other roads.

Villagers have repeatedly called for a Nunthorpe-wide traffic scheme.

The two councils had been working together on the problem before Redcar and Cleveland opted for closure on safety grounds a couple of weeks ago.

Coun Walker said the decision was indefensible: "It flies in the face of facts, residents' wishes and agreements which we thought had been reached," he said. "Residents feel they have been ignored and we feel that our own comments were not properly considered.

"If that is so it could invalidate the decision. I urge Redcar and Cleveland to think again."

Redcar and Cleveland refuted the claims. Lead member for environment and infrastructure, Coun Sylvia Szintai, said: "We think the decision was the right one and we stand by that. How can anyone claim residents' views were ignored? The closure debate must have been the biggest this area has ever known.

"Six months ago we could have opted for permanent closure but we didn't because of our consultation with Middlesbrough.

"We don't deny the issue has divided public opinion but we think we have made the best decision for our residents and the hundreds of children who use that road to get to school."

Mr Robson said the matter could now be referred to human rights lawyers in London.

He said Mr Martin Callaghan, Euro-MP, felt residents had a strong case. He wanted the public meeting on February 20 to call for Gypsy Lane to be re-opened.

"It was a unilateral decision by a daft council involving a small number of people which is affecting thousands of other people.