A DANGEROUS stretch of road between two villages, known locally as the mad mile, is to be made safe at a cost of £100,000.

After years of waiting for a footpath to be created between Neasham and Hurworth villages, near Darlington, residents and parish councillors are now overjoyed that it will now finally happen.

Darlington Borough Council has pledged a lump sum to create a new path linking the two villages, making it easier and safer for journeys on foot.

Peter Foster, parish councillor for Hurworth and district councillor in both villages, said the road has been a concern for years.

He said: "It is a well-used stretch of road and really dangerous. This is good news for everyone in the villages - the borough council has seen sense at last."

The 800m path will link the two villages. The existing £40,000 traffic calming gateway scheme was introduced in Hurworth in 2001 and in Neasham in 2002.

Mr Foster said the traffic calming measures were brought in to stop motorists from speeding along the road, which had become known locally as the mad mile.

A further £25,000 has already been set aside for the path as a condition made by the borough council last year in respect of a planning application by Castlebeck Care to convert the Newbus Arms Hotel, Neasham, into a residential centre for autistic adults.

The development of the 1.8m-wide footpath is part of the council's road safety and highways improvements which will total almost £4m for this financial year.

Coun Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "I know this footpath will make a difference to road safety for the residents of Hurworth and Neasham who have to make this difficult journey along the road."

There is no start date yet for the building of the path.