A ROW over work on crucial flood defences for neighbouring towns has been resolved, it emerged yesterday.

Work on the Mill Beck pumping station for Malton and Norton was put on hold after engineers discovered a gas main running close to a railway signal box.

Bosses at Transco thought they would have to move the gas pipe to make way for the flood defence project in Norton Road.

But Railtrack chiefs said the work could not be carried out until they had received a method statement from the gas company, as part of health and safety requirements.

A Transco spokesman said the issue had finally been resolved after a stand-off lasting almost two weeks.

"We are now going to take the main away from where the district council wants to do the flood defence work, by laying 50 to 60 metres of gas line which will move it away," he said.