WORK has started to clear a stretch of overgrown former rail track which was part of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Volunteers have begun to clear the quarter mile long Brusselton Incline, at Brusselton, near Shildon, in County Durham.

The incline formed part of the first train journey which ran for 26 miles between Witton Park Colliery, near to Bishop Auckland, to Stockton.

Brusselton Incline Group members began to clear the land of overgrown shrubbery today (Tuesday, March 25) and they expect the job to take two weeks.

The group was set up last year after the Milk Road and the Accommodation bridges on the former rail line, at Brusselton, were damaged and stone was stolen from them.

Michael O’Neill, secretary of the group, said: “Only four of us were there today but we’re hoping to have a bigger group of helpers at the weekend.

“We’re cutting branches off and removing the overgrown shrubbery as we want to get the incline back to grass.

“It looks like a bit of a jungle out there but we’ve made a good start.

“Most of the original stone sleepers seem to be in place. It seems as if they just took up the track and left them.”

The group is still working with bodies, such as Durham County Council, to try to locate the owners of the bridges so that repairs can be carried out.