HORSE riders are celebrating after a public inquiry ruled a path they use should become a public bridleway – meaning they will no longer have to use the busy A1064 to get between villages.

Between 60 and 80 horses from riding stables in the Great Yarmouth area regularly use the path, which crosses farmland at the bottom of West Road between Mautby and West Caister to get from Yarmouth to the western villages of Runham and Stokesby.

However, six years ago the farmer who owns the land banned the horses, prompting riders to unite in a fight to get access.

With the support of the British Horse Society, which promotes equestrian activities across the UK, the riders gathered evidence showing the path had been used by horses as long ago as the first world war and should therefore be given bridleway status. The inquiry, held at Yarmouth racecourse, found in the horse riders’ favour and the new bridleway officially opened at West Caister on November 6.

Carole Futter, who rides at a Yarmouth stable, said: “With the high horse population down there, there was no other way for the horses to get safely to the west.

“We can ride to Acle now, whereas before we had to ride on the A1064, which is dangerous.”