AN unofficial diversion through an east Cleveland village is a recipe for disaster, a councillor has warned.

Loftus Bank, on the A174, is closed for nine weeks for the final part of a repair scheme, after a landslip two years ago.

The official diversion takes motorists on to the A171 Guisborough to Whitby road, and adds an extra eight miles to journeys.

But some drivers are taking a diversion through Carlin How and Skinningrove, and up the road from Skinningrove beach to the cliffs, known locally as Boothroyd's Bank, which comes out at North Terrace, Loftus.

East Cleveland Councillor Steve Kay is concerned about the dangers of the route, and has been inundated with complaints from villagers.

He said he feared motorists were dicing with death by taking the steep winding bank.

He said: "The council knew this would be widely used and did some preparation work.

"They filled the ditches with grey hardcore to stop people going into the ditch.

"But this hardcore is now all over the road - it is a hazard in its own right."

Andy Hyams, deputy director of technical services at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said the council was not aware of any problems at Boothroyd's Bank.

He said: "Obviously the bank is being used by a fair amount of traffic, and we hope that drops off."