A new stretch of the Strawberry Line is open to walkers in the Mendip village of Westbury-Sub-Mendip to enjoy this Christmas - and beyond.

Mendip District Council has been working in partnership with charity Greenways & Cycleroute, local residents, businesses and volunteers to create around 1KM of new path between Station Road and Erlon Lane.

The unsurfaced path was fenced and opened in May, and now the traffic-free route has been laid with a dust surface, which will soon be open to cyclists and horse riders when the remaining sections of concrete have been laid.

The Strawberry Line is part of the Somerset Circle which, when completed, will form a 76-mile traffic-free circuit.

Cllr Ros Wyke, Leader of Mendip District Council and Parish Councillor at Westbury-Sub-Mendip said: "I'm thrilled that we are able to get this multi-user path open in time for Christmas.

"The opening of this path demonstrates the commitment of the community to create more active travel options and has generated another section of the Strawberry Line, getting us ever closer to completing the 'Somerset Circle'.

"Being a resident of the village, this path is close to my heart. I will be making the most of it over the Christmas break and, I hope, for many years to come!"

Other sections of path are being created in Mendip, including a 700m stretch at the Shape Mendip Campus in Shepton Mallet which is due to open January. It will run from Collett Park, across the Council office car park, under the bridge below Cannards Grave Road onto the footway adjacent to Station Road, providing a traffic-free connection between the Tadley Estate and the Townsend Retail Park.

Plans to start work on a path alongside the West Shepton Playing Fields are in progress, with the works scheduled to start in the new year.

Path development is a key corporate priority for the Council. Mendip aims to connect communities, reduce car travel, cut carbon emissions, and promote active lifestyles in the district.

Learn more here: www.mendip.gov.uk/paths.