COBBLE improvement work continues in Guisborough - it is now 73,000 and counting.

The major project in the town's Westgate, which started on St Valentine's day last year, has now involved laying more than 73,000 cobbles.

As two weeks of cobble-cleaning starts today, Redcar and Cleveland council has announced that £320,000 of the £500,000 has been used.

The cleaning works, between Lynne's Bakers and Sunnyfield House, will be done each Friday, Monday and Wednesday, removing the thin coating of grout from the surface.

Each 15-metre, 20-metre long working area will be fenced off and sheeted between 8am and 4pm with cleaning planned to avoid market days or conflict with BGs Transco's works.

At the request of Guisborough business association, all work will stop on July 27 with cobble re-laying starting again on September 10.

The council's lead member for environment and infrastructure, Coun Sylvia Szintai, said: "Despite areas having been relaid for almost 18 months, the combination of traffic, a winter and last year's wet autumn has not removed all the grout.

"Overall, we are pleased with progress and we thank businesses next to the works for support and co-operation."