A campaign to re-open a Coalville footpath blocked off by Network Rail has now reached County Hall.

The Facebook group was set up after regular users of the path said a fence was put in by Network Rail without prior warning.

The path, from Scotlands Playing Fields towards Hugglescote is well used by local residents who say it has been a regular route for years - with one walker using it for 70 years!

Lead campaigner Amy Shepherd as lead campaigner and county councillor Terri Eynon have been aiming to win back access for locals.

The aim is to prove to Leicestershire County Council that the path has been in use for decades

Local residents were asked to back them in their fight by filling in an evidence form.

Now, a strong response has seen an application submitted to County Hall.

Cllr Eynon posted on Facebook with an update and said: "'How long have you been walking the footpath from Scotlands Fields?' we asked after Network Rail put a fence across this much loved track.

"Your response has been amazing! Amy Shepherd and I had a physically distanced meeting to collate the 'User Evidence' forms and 29 of these are now at County Hall proving just how important this path is to local people.

"Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill these in.

"More than half of respondents have been walking this footpath for over 20 years, a quarter for more than 30 years and the prize for the longest has to go to one very fit resident who has been walking this path for 70 years!

"We have had excellent support from the Leicestershire County Council Access Officers.

"We now have to be a bit patient while they go through the details and put our case to the inspector.

"It is a legal process and we all know how slow that can be.

"In the meantime, please keep up the pressure whenever you can.

"We all need better off-road pedestrian and cycle routes.

"The Government has promised funding for this and we need some of this money spending in Leicestershire."

When Coalville Nub News contacted Network Rail last month they said the fence had been put there to stop people trespassing on to the line.