Bridleway B30, which runs along the edge of Two Mile Coppice, has been closed for almost a year following concerns over the safety of horse riders, but it is now getting an extensive facelift.

Dorset County Council natural environment manager Dr Phil Sterling said:

"Although the bridleway won't be re-opened to the public until the Weymouth Relief Road has been finished, it's best for us to undertake this work now, outside of the bird-nesting season.

"Not only is the bridleway badly rutted it is also often impassible due to deep mud."

The work to the bridleway includes the coppicing of no more than ten small to medium-sized trees, and has been approved by Natural England.

The stumps will be left to re-grow after the completion of the works, and these will be selectively cut to encourage them to grow away from the bridleway.

Dr Sterling continued:

"All trees that have been identified for management have been surveyed for their wildlife value and none of these trees are ancient ."

The bridleway, which is currently a combination of mud and stone, will become a stable gravel surface which will be usable all year round.

Improvements will start this week and take around ten days.