A SMALL east Durham community has got some welcome Christmas relief following improvements to its only link to the outside world.

Residents of the 16 homes in the hamlet of Heath View, near Station Town, had deliveries to their homes stopped and taxi drivers were refusing to pick people up because of the state of the road.

But this week Durham County Council workers moved in and carried out preliminary remedial work on the road.

Work on the road follows strong pressure on highways chiefs from residents backed by Wingate Parish Council.

Concern mounted among residents of the terraced houses and detached bungalows after a doctor refused to negotiate the pot-holed lane to visit a patient.

The half-mile stretch of unadopted road - known as byway number six Station Town to Heath View - was in its worst state for 40 years, according to resident Dennis Lawson.

At one time, the properties, now surrounded by fields, were the homes of officials working at the village colliery.

The road and its adjacent pedestrian footpath were well maintained then but, since the closure of the pit and the demolition of many neighbouring homes, the vital lane has deteriorated into little more than a rutted track.

This was made worse by recent flooding:

Mr Lawson said: "Council workers this week filled the holes with loose material and have said they will do something more permanent once the weather improves."

He said that residents would continue to push to have the byway designated a highway - making the maintenance of the road the responsibility of the county council.

Residents have been told that if they want the roadway adopted they would have to fund the upgrading work themselves