About 100 people attended the first day of the hearing in the memorial hall, which was sparked by landowners Stanley and Sheila Mooring's objections to North Yorkshire County Council's order making Wells Walk and Old Beck Road a Byway Open to All Traffic, or BOAT.

The long-running dispute began after Mr and Mrs Mooring bought Beck Isle Farm, which includes Wells Walk and initially restricted public access to it.

It then emerged the route did not appear on the county council's definitive map of public rights of way, so Pickering Town Council applied for it to be added in August 2004. The county council finally made the order in September last year and Mr and Mrs Mooring then closed the walk altogether "on legal advice", warning that trespassers would be prosecuted.

Opening the public inquiry yesterday morning, Government planning inspector Barney Grimshaw said there were three options open to him after hearing all the evidence.

These were to confirm the BOAT, not confirm it or to confirm it with some modifications.

But Mr Grimshaw said if he chose the latter option and the modification was "significant", it would have to be advertised, which would allow people to object. This could result in another public inquiry.

He said a vast amount of written evidence had been submitted and his job was to judge whether the criteria for a right of way exists under the legislation.

Mr Grimshaw said: "What it isn't for me to consider is whether a BOAT is needed or desirable along this particular route. My decision has to be based on the criteria set out in the various Acts."

More than a dozen people registered their wish to address the inquiry in support of the BOAT, including town clerk Andrew Husband, local landowner Mike O'Donnell and representatives of the of Byways and Bridleways Trust and the British Horse Society.

Betty Hood of Pickering Civic Society, said she wished to speak against the order and two residents said they wanted the route to be opened, but not to traffic.

The county council and Mr and Mrs Mooring are represented at the inquiry.

l What do you think? Write to the Malton and Pickering Mercury, or email sheila.elgey@yrnltd.co.uk. You can also text the words MPMEDITOR followed by your message to 81800