A CRACK that appeared in a public footpath has gradually widened, causing it to be closed for safety reasons.

The path wends upstream along the riverbank from the castle in Barnard Castle, past the site of the former gas works. A spokesman for Teesdale District Council, which is responsible for the path, said it had originally partitioned it off when the crack appeared, but as it had gradually widened the council had closed it off entirely. Then last week a section dropped totally into the water.

The situation is being monitored, but the council is waiting to see how much more of the path disappears before deciding whether to repair or divert it