Sherburn ward member Coun Mike Jordan revealed this week the parish had finally received notification the public right of way between Kirkgate and Beech Grove – blocked off due to building work by GMS Rawfield – would be included on North Yorkshire County Council's definitive map.

He said this meant it would be fully open and maintained when the map for Selby and district was re-drawn early next year, and it was adopted by them.

Dispute over access to the footpath goes back about three years when developers GMS Rawfield blocked the footpath with a gate when it started to build homes on the former Squire's Milk Bar site.

Coun Jordan said: "This good news means this will be a recognised footpath. It will therefore be open and maintained by NYCC highways.

"Campaigners in the village have been trying to get recognition of this footpath for the past three years.

"The parish council and others were pursuing this on behalf of residents as it provided a short cut from Kirkgate to the doctor's surgery in Beech Grove.

"I'm pleased this has been resolved. It has been a long-running dispute, and I'm sure everyone in Sherburn will be relieved at this formal recognition."