AN unofficial footpath has been upgraded and "formalised" to make life safer for schoolchildren and villagers in Stogumber.

For years people had created their own path on private land between the church and school in Station Road.

But all that changed in the summer when Somerset County Council met district and parish representatives to try and find a solution.

Following assessments, contractors were brought in to remove vegetation, make safe a wall and create a proper fenced and surfaced footpath with support from landowners Rob and Christine Hayes.

Children from nearby Stogumber Primary School were kept up-to-date as work progressed and even challenged to come up with their own ideas for a flood-proof road bridge.

The youngsters got busy designing a variety of bridges, while the task of finding the best entries fell to Somerset County Council's own bridge manager.

In the end, Jasmin Cruickshank was judged as the winner of the aged nine to 11 age group with Elizabeth Clavey second and Nicholas Hawksley-Blake, Joshua Harding and Alysha Cardwell finishing first, second and third respectively in the aged five to eight category.

Meanwhile, the new footpath was officially opened in a grand ceremony attended by villagers and civic dignitaries on Monday (December 14).

Somerset county environment portfolio holder Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew congratulated everyone involved with the £25,000 project.

He said: "It isn't always possible to turn things around quickly, but this scheme went from a standing start in June to full completion before Christmas, with all sorts of technical challenges surmounted on the way.

"We must also congratulate the parish council for promoting this scheme so positively and constructively and the Hayes family deserve everybody's gratitude for dedicating the footpath."

Parish council chairman Cllr Julian Spicer said he believed such a path had been on the parish's "wish list" since the 1920s.

He added: "It was marvellous that with the will and right contributions how quickly and positively it came together.

"Temporary road closures and work on this scale inevitably caused some inconvenience to villagers, so we are grateful for everyone's forbearance and to the contractors who worked hard to minimise the impact."

District council for Stogumber Cllr Tim Taylor added: "County and district officers worked really well together with excellent support and guidance from the parish council.

"The finished scheme was worthy of the local celebration we all enjoyed on Monday."

Pictured from the left at the opening are, centre, Stogumber Parish Council chairman Julian Spicer, Crowcombe and Stogumber district councillor Tim Taylor, landowners Rob and Christine Hayes, Watchet and Quantocks county councillor Anthony Trollope-Bellew watched by school children, including competition winners, in front from the left, Elizabeth Clavey, Jasmin Cruickshank, Nicholas Hawksley-Blake and Alysha Cardwell.

Photo: Steve Guscott