CAMPAIGNERS last night claimed victory in the fight to save a mothballed North-East rail route from the threat of development - raising hopes it can be reopened.

Network Rail announced it would join a study to reinstate the 21-mile long Leamside line, which links Ferryhill, in County Durham, with Pelaw, near Gateshead.

Following a meeting in London, Network Rail said it had no option but to press ahead with removing the remaining track because it was in such a poor state of repair.

But its pledge to work with Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, on a feasibility study is being seen as removing any fear the land would then be sold off.

Dyan Crowther, route director of Network Rail North-East, said: "The Leamside line is saved forever as far as we are concerned - we do not have any intention of closing it.

"We are committed to join with Nexus and other stakeholders to carry out a feasibility study about re-opening the line and I very much hope it can be positive."

The pledge was welcomed by Fraser Kemp, Labour MP for Houghton and Washington East, who arranged the meeting. He said: "I am really grateful that Network Rail has made this commitment.

"The Leamside line has been neglected, but Wearsiders know that is no reason why we should not now look to the future and plan to reopen it to proper traffic."

Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham City, said: "I'm really pleased at the outcome of the meeting and I hope we can now re-open the line for passengers."

The Leamside line has been closed to freight services since 1992 and passengers since the mid-1960s.

Campaigners say it should be reopened to ease congestion on the East Coast Main Line.

Network Rail wants to salvage remaining assets to benefit other parts of the rail network, although it is thought that some of the line could end up as scrap.

It says that the Leamside line is currently unsuitable for trains and would need to be replaced before a service could run on the route.