A COUNCIL refuses to be floored by the scale of redevelopment work in a town centre.

Some 73,000 cobbles have been laid in Guisborough's Westgate since work began on St Valentine's Day last year.

Work cleaning the cobbles began yesterday and will take two weeks. Each area being cleaned will be fenced off and sheeted, but the operation will be suspended on market days and will avoid conflict with gas mains work on Westgate.

At the request of the town's Business Association, all work will stop for the summer on July 27 and relaying work will recommence in September.

Councillor Sylvia Szintai, the council's lead member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: "We're effectively giving Mother Nature a helping hand during this phase of work.

"Despite areas having been relaid for almost 18 months, the combination of traffic, a winter and last year's wettest autumn, has not removed all the grout."