AN ORGANISATION that represents motorcyclists has offered to carry out voluntary work on a country lane near Stokesley said to have been damaged by traffic.

North Yorkshire councillors were asked by their officers on Monday to agree to an order temporarily banning vehicles, except for access, from Green Lane, over Cringle Moor and Cold Moor at Kirkby-in-Cleveland.

It had been suggested that, once money was allocated for remedial work, officers should meet representatives from the North York Moors national park authority to find a way forward in maintaining and managing the lane.

The county committee for Hambleton deferred a decision on Monday, however, after being told that the Trail Riders' Fellowship was prepared to put in voluntary labour to improve the lane.

The request for vehicles to be banned came from the parish council which, two years ago, produced photographs showing ruts and other damage to the surface of the lane.

Traffic management officer Ian Beighton said that since the issue was first debated in 2000, a meeting had taken place with the national park authority.

A partnership arrangement had been agreed, with the national park giving limited funding and organising and supervising volunteer labour, but lack of money had proved a problem and the foot-and-mouth crisis had delayed work by a further 12 months.

Mr Beighton said an annual budget of £40,000 for maintenance of such lanes around the country was heavily committed this year. He suggested imposing a temporary traffic ban in Green Lane, which would receive a priority ranking when funds became available.

Coun John Fletcher, the local member, said he was reluctant to agree to any traffic ban. Such use of Green Lane was less than before and confined to two-wheeled traffic because of the width. He thought the damage could be repaired relatively easily, removing the need for any prohibition.