A FURTHER section of the coast path at Talland Bay will close from today (Friday) for up to four weeks as works take place to repair coastal defences destroyed in last winter's storms.

The work is essential to ensure the future of the path at Talland, said a spokesperson for CORMAC, which has organised the diversion route. The mile-long diversion follows roads inland, rather than footpaths, and rejoins the coastal path at Downend Cottage, near The Warren.

The new closure means that a previous, shorter diversion which took walkers up Sand Hill and back to the coastal path via a track, can no longer be used.

The repair work is to be carried out by contractors BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald. The diversion has been organised by the CORMAC Countryside Team. Officer Dave Wood said: 'It is great to see the investment in our coastline by DEFRA and Cornwall Council. We hope to keep inconvenience to a minimum during the works and ask that people follow the diversion put in place.

'Although we appreciate that the diversion will be in place for four weeks, it is hoped that this will preserve the future of the path for many years to come.' The work due to take place in the coming weeks involves making placements of rock armour, gabion baskets and sprayed concrete to protect and improve the resilience of the cliff supporting the road.

Meanwhile, a long-term solution to the subsidence which has seen an adjoining part of the coastal path closed for several months has yet to be found, said clerk to Polperro Community Council Mr G Sharpe.

Regular monitoring of the path continues, said Cornwall councillor for West Looe and Lansallos Edwina Hannaford: 'The path remains closed as Cornwall Council's geotechnical engineer considers the cliff still to be highly unstable and it could be subject to a major failure.

'The situation continues to be monitored on a regular basis and negotiations continue with local landowners to find an alternative detour that avoids the steep climb up Sand Hill and through Brent.'

The orginal closure and diversion cut off access to the Polperro and Talland War Memorial at Downend Head, said Mr Sharpe, but CORMAC had been helpful in re-routing part of the original diversion so people could still visit the memorial.