CYCLISTS, walkers and horse riders will be able to enjoy outings in the countryside in a safety thanks to a route to be created.

Funding has been secured for the off-road path, so visitors to Guisborough can avoid a busy road and travel in safety.

The £99,169 route will extend from Butt Lane, using land which was once a railway line, to Little Waterfall Farm, close to the village of Slapewath.

Guisborough Market Town Partnership, working with transport charity Sustrans, the Guisborough Cycle Initiative and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, has secured funding to create the multi-user path.

It will allow full access for people with disabilities.

The land, which is owned by Gisborough Estates, is licensed to Sustrans, which will deliver the project on behalf of the Guisborough Partnership.

Planning approval has been granted and work is expected to be completed by June.

Carol Hudson, manager for the Market Town Partnership, said: "There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes work to put this scheme together.

"But it has all paid off, and will encourage visitors and local people to enjoy the countryside in a safe environment."

She added: "It is just one of several major projects being co-ordinated by the partnership for the people of Guisborough to encourage cycling in the town and throughout the area.

"We want to promote cycling as part of tourism in the area and, for that reason, we secured this funding."

Treasurer of the Guisborough Cycling Initiative (GCI), Ian Henry, said: "The GCI welcomes this investment in a traffic-free route for the benefit of the residents of Guisborough and a growing number of tourists, walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

"Our research has shown popular demand for the improved route, which will extend the existing Guisborough Greenway along the former railway line into east Cleveland."

Funding was obtained from the Single Programme through One NorthEast and the Tees Valley Partnership.

Jonathan Kibble, Sustrans Tees Valley area manager, said: "This new route will provide an important link for local people and, in future, as part of Regional Cycle Route 54 between Middlesbrough, where the route joins National Cycle Network Route 65, and Loftus, where the route joins National Cycle Network Route 1.