A £200,000 scheme to stabilise an East Cleveland land slope has been given the go-ahead.

And the project is to be treated as a matter of urgency in a bid to head off damage to a potash mine rail link.

Fears of flooding in Skinningrove were also voiced as councillors considered a report on damage to the Whitecliff beck at Loftus.

At Tuesday's meeting of Redcar and Cleveland council executive, chairman Coun David Walsh said: "It is crucial we get this work under way.

"There is a danger otherwise of slippage which could cause problems with the potash railway and it is essential to keep that service alive."

Coun Sylvia Szintai, lead member for infrastructure, said: "It could also affect the good work we have done at Skinningrove through a damming effect leading to water coming down to the village in a rush."

Members were told damage occurred in the Whitecliff valley during the November floods last year.

The executive was urged to incorporate the £200,000 cost of remedial work into next year's budget.

Neighbourhood services officer Mr Peter Lane said movement of the valley's south slope was spotted during work to make a fish pass as part of the Loftus Bank stabilisation scheme.

The movement was above excavation work and there was immediate concern for men working beneath and the mineral railway above.

The fish pass was being made to provide access to higher reaches of Whitecliff beck for migrating fish - an Environment Agency condition for culverting the beck. The landslide was caused by drift deposits slipping down the rock face.

Temporary stabilisation work was carried out, and as the railway is founded on a rock outcrop, Cleveland Potash at nearby Boulby decided there was no danger and continued to run trains along the line. But the area was cordoned off as a safety precaution for the public.

Councillors were told that to do nothing could cause a build-up of material which could dam the beck. The resulting surge of water would have enough power to knock down trees and damage flood defence work on the beck.

There would also be a risk of flooding in Skinningrove, devastated twice last year in heavy rain in July and November.