A TYNEDALE road which collapsed into the River Tyne during Storm Desmond has reopened after was left impassable by the worst floods in living memory.

The road between Bywell and Ovingham was severely damaged in the flooding of December 2015, when the river became torrential and caused a landslide.

But it has now reopened to traffic after an eight-week project by engineers from Northumberland County Council to move the road a safe distance from the river.

It follows negotiations to buy a plot of land north of the existing road, which allowed it to be rerouted.

A second phase of work to bolster the riverbank is scheduled to begin next summer, subject to approval from the Environment Agency.

Coun. Ian Swithenbank, cabinet member for local services at Northumberland County Council, said: "Almost one year later and we are still picking up the pieces after Storm Desmond, but I'm very happy to report the completion of another important repair job.

"Moving the road back from the river will minimise the danger posed by the road's proximity to the Tyne and help to ensure the integrity of the road network the next time we experience a similar event to Storm Desmond.

"Again, we thank local people for their patience as we worked to put right the damage of last winter."

The road is one of many flood-damaged sites being repaired across the county following the unprecedented floods last winter, and funded entirely by the Government as part of the £14.6m highway flood damage repair programme.