Two men are fighting a battle to stop Railtrack diverting a footpath across a "dangerous" stretch of the A6 and down a mucky cattle track, reports Jennie Dennett.

Mark Gillhespey, of Warton, and Michael Jackson, of Hest Bank, are the sole objectors to a planning application by Railtrack to divert a footpath at Yealand Steps, which crosses a stretch of railway line near Yealand Conyers.

The application is part of Railtrack's modernisation work on the West Coast Main Line which will raise train speeds north of Crewe to an average 125mph.

In line with health and safety advice, the company has been trying to close or divert about 100 footpaths which cross upgraded track on the London to Edinburgh route.

It has successfully negotiated rerouting or closing eight cross-track paths in Cumbria and north Lancashire, save for one dispute with a local landowner at Well Heads, near Sedgwick, and a battle with just two public objectors regarding Yealand Steps.

The objections are now subject to a public inquiry, which convened in Kendal yesterday (Thursday).

"I don't think people are aware of the plans because they haven't been on the path since March because of foot-and-mouth."

said objector Mr Jackson.

"Railtrack's alternative is not acceptable.

It involves walking 200 yards along a narrow verge on the A6, going down an underpass where cattle congregate, which is very muddy, and then scrambling up a steep bank.

It is very unpleasant and it's especially dangerous for young children," he said.

Donna O'Brien, of the Ramblers Association, agreed that the verge along the A6 needed widening to make the diverted route safe, but said Railtrack would do the work as soon as permission from the highways authority was assured.

The planning inquiry opened yesterday at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, but the Yealand Steps objections will be heard at another inquiry session at Lichfield, Staffordshire, on October 16, to suit Mr Jackson.