WORK will start next week on County Durham's first "quiet lane"- a new creation of highway designed to be shared equally by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and motor vehicles.

Pontop Pike Lane, an unclassified country road close to Leadgate, near Consett, has been chosen for a pilot programme.

Highways chiefs say they hope the move will improve travel choice and make country lanes better for people who wish to walk, cycle and horse ride without restricting the needs of farmers and rural businesses.

Councillor Sonny Douthwaite, chairman of Durham County Council's highways committee, said: "We have decided to go with just the one to begin with, and after we have monitored that to see how it performs, we will look again at possibly extending the scheme to some, or all of the other four routes, and identifying other potential sites elsewhere in the county.

"Quiet lanes are an innovative way of seeking to manage traffic in the countryside, including the speed of vehicles and the general attitude of the people who use them, and of encouraging people behind the wheel to respect other forms of transport.

"They are also about encouraging people to walk more as a healthier mode of transport. If people walk more for pleasure and leisure, it may well result in them walking more for shorter journeys."

Country roads, where the speed and volume of traffic is already low, and alternative routes to divert traffic, will be considered for the scheme.

Low-cost engineering works, such as signing and "false cattle grid" rumble strips, are already used to discourage cars.