WORK will start tomorrow (WED) to restore the original cobbles on a pathway.

Paths on both ends of Prebends Bridge in Durham City are being resurfaced and the cobbles restored as part of a plan to improve cycle access in the historic heart of the city.

Although paths will not be closed while work is carried out, access for pedestrians and cyclists may be restricted.

The improvements are being funded by Durham County Council through its Local Transport Plan.

It is hoped that this section of path will eventually be incorporated into a new National Cycle Network route, which would bring riders across Prebends Bridge and down South Bailey through the World Heritage Site and into the city centre.

Adrian White, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, said: "These works will mean an immediate improvement for regular users, with the pathway being resurfaced and the original cobbles restored.

"And in the longer term, the works will increase our chances of having this route reclassified as part of the National Cycle Network, bringing cyclists into the very centre of our historic city."