WALKERS, runners and cyclists are taking the law into their own hands and ignoring the controversial footpath closure on the recently opened £637,000 Dunster-Blue Anchor section of the trail.

In February, members of the Blue Anchor Chalet Owners’ Association fenced off the footpath, which traditionally ran past their properties, and directed trail-users down a steep pebble bank on to the beach.

Since then, over 70 regular users of the age-old route alongside the sea have joined a Ramblers’ Association campaign to petition the county council to reopen the footpath.

And now angry protestors are disregarding the notices which claim that the path is private property.

Last weekend, according to residents of nearby houses: “People were climbing over the fences and going along the path all the time.”

One householder added: “One chalet-owner was shouting at people ‘Get off my land’. Things were starting to get really tense and it’s surely only a matter of time before there is a major confrontation.

“This is causing really strong feeling among visitors and residents. The path has been part of Blue Anchor life for as long as anyone can remember.”

The first 1.5km section of the Steam Coast Trail, which will eventually run from Minehead to Williton, opened last December and soon became a major tourist attraction.

But in February, owners of the 18 chalets next to Blue Anchor railway station fenced off the path with wooden barriers, claiming that the last 100m of the official public footpath ran across the beach.

Trail-users have complained that cyclists, small children and the disabled are finding it difficult or even impossible to negotiate the stones and shingle and claim that some people have turned back and returned to Dunster.

Matters came to a head last weekend when high tides submerged the beach path.

“Just where were we supposed to go?” asked West Quantoxhead photographer George Ody, who was walking with friends from Dunster Beach to Blue Anchor.

“Thousands have been spent on this beautiful path and it just comes a dead end. I have walked the traditional path alongside the chalets for 50 years and will continue to do so.

“We ignored the signs and, when other walkers and cyclists came along, I suggested that they do the same. We couldn’t have walked along the beach even if we had wanted to.

“This is a crazy situation and needs to be sorted out. In the meantime, people are taking the matter into their own hands and ignoring the ‘keep out’ signs – and good luck to them.”