An erosion-hit coast road which was closed in February for safety has reopened, almost four months later.

Cumbria County Council shut the B5300 at Dubmill Point, between Maryport and Silloth, after an inspection found the edge of the beach had eroded by about two metres in just two months, leaving the carriageway dangerously close to the edge.

Work to repair and replace existing sea defences was held up while the council sought licences from two government departments.

Now that work has been completed and the road has been reopened.

A council spokesman said the contractor had worked around the clock for eight weeks to carry out major engineering works on the site, facing challenging weather conditions as they worked.

The work has included removing an existing limestone rock and concrete sea defence wall over a length of 20m, which had failed, leaving the sand dunes susceptible to ongoing erosion and putting the B5300 coast road at risk.

New rock rock armour protection covering around 120m has been installed to absorb wave energy which would otherwise rapidly erode the sand cliffs

About 250m of the B5300 has also been resurfaced.

Around 7,500 tonnes of rock – the equivalent of 325 lorry loads - was used to protect the B5300 from coastal erosion.

The spokesman said: "Highway teams and our contractor worked tirelessly night and day, and over weekends and bank holidays, to complete the repairs. Specialist plant and machinery were required to do the work, including two 20-tonne excavator machines and an eight-tonne dumper truck.

"Given the sensitive location, the county council carried out a number of measures to ensure the works met the environmental requirements of Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation. These included securing a European Protected Species mitigation licence to ensure no disturbance of a habitat of natterjack toads, a protected European species."

Councillor Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The county council has carried out these essential repairs to protect the road from the imminent threat of coastal erosion.

"I’d like to thank our highways teams and our contractor for the magnificent work they’ve done over the past eight weeks, working long hours in the wind and rain.

"This has been a challenging operation, working on an environmentally sensitive site, and the result is a massive improvement.

"I’d like to thank local residents, the travelling public and businesses for their patience while this work has been carried out.”