CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after work was carried out to make the site of a disused mine safer for the public.

Concerns were raised that children, who were trespassing on private land at an old shale heap, were at risk of being injured in landslips and in derelict buildings at the former Kilton Mine, in east Cleveland.

Liverton resident Barrie Pell contacted Redcar and Cleveland borough councillor Steve Kay in a bid to have the site made safer.

After Councillor Kay wrote to landowner Skelton and Gilling Estate, urging it to take action, the estate manager ensured that remedial work was carried out on the site, near the village of Kilton Thorpe.

After visiting the mine, Councillor Kay said: "I was concerned that the site was a danger to the public in view of the potential hazards to be found there.

"There were reports of children and youths on bikes, and there was the evidence of bottles and cans in the buildings.

In particular, the massive heap itself and the ruinous buildings, in my opinion, presented a peril to the public.

"On the ground, under one building, there were what appeared to be asbestos sheets and a further sheet looked poised to fall from the remains of the roof."

Yesterday, estate manager Nick Raban-Williams wrote to Councillor Kay to report what progress had beenmade on securing the site.

He wrote: "We have demolished the dilapidated brick, steel and asbestos-roofed building - the brick and rubble will be recycled for track repairs. We have put large warning signs high up on the main buildings and heaped material against the low entrance under the main concrete winding house, so it is much harder for the youths or whoever to hide in there."

We lcoming the news, Councillor Kay said: "This mine site can never be completely safe, but undoubtedly progress has been made.

"I remain concerned about the stability of the heap itself.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is limited in what it can do because the site is on private land.

"I would strongly advise the public to keep off."