MOVES to allow horse riders to use a village track have been blocked.

The Essex Bridleways Association had asked Essex County Council to change the status of footpaths on Green Lane and Church Lane in Mistley.

The footpaths would have to be turned into restricted byways.

But now Essex County Council has turned down the request to turn Church Lane into a restricted byway as there is not enough evidence.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Following the application from the Essex Bridleways Association, we investigated and found that the route is, and always has been, a private road rather than a public road. We have refused the application as a result.”

The Green Lane application is still being assessed.