PLANS to close a motorists' short cut have moved a step closer.

Gypsy Lane, in Nunthorpe, lies on the administrative border of Middlesbrough Borough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

For years, it has been used as a short cut for people trying to get from the east Cleveland and North Yorkshire side of the town to Teesside, instead of using the bypass which skirts around the area.

Last December, Redcar and Cleveland took the step of temporarily closing the lane, following concerns from residents about speeding cars and the safety of children at Nunthorpe Primary School and Nunthorpe Comprehensive School.

But the closure has increased the volume of traffic on The Avenue and Guisborough Road side of Nunthorpe, which fall under the control of Middlesbrough council.

The issue has proved to be contentious and has split the Nunthorpe community, several of whom demonstrated outside a Redcar and Cleveland's council meeting.

In a report to the council's executive, Andy Hyams, deputy director of technical services, said he was unable to recommend an option to the council and said members must decide themselves.

Councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the lane closed, arguing that safety must be a priority over convenience.

But the decision did not go down well in Middlesbrough.

Brian Glover, head of transport and design services at Middlesbrough council, said: "We are disappointed that this decision has been reached by Redcar and Cleveland, as previous discussions with their officers indicated that an accommodation had been reached.

"We will be looking for an early meeting with them to discuss this matter."