Steps leading to a popular park in Midlothian have been shut due to concerns over landslip problems.

It is understood recent heavy rainfall has caused cracks to appear on the steps and embankment at Ironmills Park in Dalkeith. In addition, a large amount of sand and gravel has been washed away in the recent storms.

The steps will now be closed permanently as the council carries out an assessment of the situation.

The decision comes just over a year since the route reopened on a temporary basis and then on a more long-term basis as the slope suffered no further movement.

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Previously, the council had spent £58,000 on getting advice over the likely causes of the land slip and to explore other options available to stabilise the slope.

This funding was also to take measures to reinstate the steps and path at Ironmills.

To prevent further failures a drain was installed along the top of the slope, trees were thinned out and an understory of willow was planted.

However, it now appears the problem has resurfaced.

Councillor Derek Rosie said: "It has been a long running saga with the steps so we can understand if local people are frustrated.

"Public safety is paramount and we need to make sure the steps are safe. The recent period of wet weather has in all probability been the cause of this more recent land slippage due to ground saturation as was the case in 2012, causing us to close off the steps in early 2013."

(LM/JP)