The resurfaced section of the Monsal Trail

A popular section of a national-park trail has been resurfaced with recycled materials.

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can expect a smoother passage on the 3km (2-mile) stretch of disused railway line forming part of the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire, after work on the stretch from Hassop Station to Little Longstone.

The route will be accessible to wheelchair users and families with young children with pushchairs. Previously, it had become eroded.

The surface is made up mainly of reused materials from highway construction and maintenance and the works were completed at a cost of £41,000, 75 per cent of which was provided by Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor Brian Lucas, the council’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Monsal Trail is a well used path for both local people and visitors so I’m glad that we were able to provide the funding to make the improvements.”

Geoff Nickolds, lead member for recreation on the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “This is a significant improvement for walkers, cyclists, riders, families and wheelchair-users on one of the most popular leisure trails in the country.

“The new surface is environmentally friendly; its light colour suits the landscape, and we hope it enables people to enjoy the trail for many more years to come.”

The trail, near Bakewell,  was kept open to walkers while the work was undertaken, but the Peak authority warns that horse riders will not be able to use the track until the Easter weekend to enable the surface to settle and harden.