TWO grandmothers who have been compared to veteran TV sleuths Rosemary and Thyme have fallen foul of the law after illegally blocking a footpath linking two primary schools.

Ethel Cummings, 71, and Pauline Gates, 58, have been praised for their crimefighting campaign to tackle vandals and louts plaguing their village of Ushaw Moor, near Durham City.

But now they are on a collision course with Durham County Council after taking it on themselves to block the footpath in a bid to halt the vandals in their tracks.

Mrs Cummings, like Mrs Gates, a governor at Ushaw Moor Junior School and secretary of the village residents' association, said vandals had caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the junior school and the neighbouring Roman Catholic junior school over the years.

Last month, her school contributed more than £1,000 to build two 6ft green metal barriers to block access and prevent unwelcome intruders.

But Durham County Council has ordered the school to remove them, saying the footpath is a designated right of way.

But former magistrate Mrs Cummings said: "We will fight this all the way. The footpath is a magnet for undesirables who light bonfires, drink and smash bottles on the ground."

She added: "We had been trying to get the barrier put up for five years but local councils kept fobbing us off."

Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council Cabinet Member with special responsibility for education, said: " Basically, they have flouted the law.

" To close a designated footpath requires a closure order and that has not been sought."