A ROW over a road closure is poised to go before the European Court of Human Rights.

Gypsy Lane, Marton, straddles the boundary between Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland borough councils.

Residents living at the Middlesbrough end are so angry at a decision by Redcar and Cleveland to permanently close its portion of the road, they have already consulted their Euro- MP about taking their case to Strasbourg.

They claim the partial closure of the road has displaced more traffic on to surrounding roads, and turned their neighbourhood into a "rat run".

The anti-closure campaigners, members of the Nunthorpe Action Group, will decide at a meeting next week whether to consult a human rights lawyer in London.

Stan Robson, their spokesman, said: "We are considering very seriously taking our case to the European Court of Human Rights.

"Lives have been made an absolute misery with noise, pollution and the effect on the value of homes - all because of the unilateral action of a council.''

Part of Gypsy Lane has no pavement on one side, and drivers - using it to cross from one side of Middlesbrough to another - were clipping house and garden walls.

Redcar MP Mo Mowlam supported those residents living on the Redcar and Cleveland side of the boundary, in demands for closure of their stretch of the road.

Redcar and Cleveland's environment and infrastructure lead member, Councillor Sylvia Szintai, said: "We did what we did as the best option for safety, and we have gone through the correct procedure."