Conflict and turmoil are seemingly rife in the ocean. Choked shipping lanes. Sabotaged seabed cables and pipelines. Migrants risking dangerous sea passages. Collapsed fish populations. Coastlines washed away by a changing climate.

But if we only consider the ocean in terms of conflict, our policymakers start to focus just on threats, borders, extraction and defence. And we miss a key opportunity. Despite the friction, powerful solutions already exist and can be scaled up.

Research shows that the ocean can be a catalyst for proactive peacebuilding. Ocean peacebuilding is the use of marine scientific cooperation, sustainable resource management and conservation efforts to anticipate and prevent conflict while fostering trust among nations.

Ocean peacebuilding is already underway, even in the most unexpected places and those shaped by the sharpest geopolitical tensions. It happens in three key ways.

Building bridges

By embracing diversity of thought when tackling problems, stereotypes and biases can be challenged, simplistic assumptions crumble and common humanity can emerge. This “contact hypothesis” has been key to ocean peacebuilding in the Gulf of Mexico. One hundred miles of water separates the Florida Keys from Cuba – plus several decades of geopolitical tensions.

Beneath the water’s surface, marine ecosystems know no such boundaries. Coral larvae, endangered sharks, turtles and fish travel the currents of the gulf. Remove a key nesting site or a stop along a migratory corridor, and those species could disappear for everyone.

Marine biologists from Cuba, Mexico and the US began quietly meeting in the 2000s to discuss conservation of marine wildlife and share data, despite the diplomatic standoff between the US and Cuba. When relations thawed in 2014, the then US president Barack Obama and former Cuban president Raul Castro re-established diplomatic relations between their countries.

Together they established the “Redgolfo” network of marine protected areas across the Gulf of Mexico. Marine protected areas or MPAs are parts of the ocean or coastline where human activity is restricted to protect natural resources, biodiversity or cultural heritage.

Scientific cooperation became a trusted foundation for heads of state to sign agreements and shake hands. Things improved.

Building standards

But the world never stands still. Politicians come and go, priorities shift, norms evolve. The second mechanism of ocean peacebuilding is the spreading of norms that empower civil society.

Designating marine protected areas without consultation and excluding local or Indigenous communities can end in failure and even spark conflict.

So when 14 serving heads of state came together in 2018 to establish the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, their flagship commitment was to ensure 100% sustainable management within their respective jurisdictions by 2025 through designing sustainable ocean plans.

They not only all agreed to this – they also agreed that these plans must be developed in an inclusive way and be underpinned by the best available science and Indigenous knowledge.

A group of countries that collectively accounts for 50% of the Earth’s coastlines had agreed on shared standards of how to plan ocean conservation and use. It relied on inclusion, consultation and empowerment of civil society.

Building trust

In 2004, the armed conflict in Indonesia’s Aceh province entered its 29th year. And then another disaster struck: an earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that swept across the region. More than 230,000 people died. The shock was profound.

One former combatant said: “My family was gone; the people were gone; the enemy was gone. What is there to fight for?” Within months, a peace deal was signed.

À lire aussi :
Reflecting on 20 years of the Aceh tsunami: From ‘megathrust’ threat to disaster mitigation

In the following months, efforts to establish an Indian Ocean tsunami early warning system began. Over time, the system was expanded and improved. Ocean scientists and seismologists in the region began working together. In Aceh, the government started multiple initiatives to install tsunami buoys and improve its early warning system.

The government was taking steps to improve the wellbeing of its people. This leads to collaboration that re-establishes and builds trust in public institutions – a critical priority in a post-conflict setting.

Can ocean peacebuilding stop a war?

Today, US-Cuba relations seem to be spiralling towards conflict. What difference could ocean peacebuilding make? History shows that even amid acute tension, ocean science is a vital diplomatic back channel. It keeps dialogue alive and gives a sense of shared prosperity and that ecological loss is a cost born by all.

At the height of the cold war and nuclear arms race, the US and USSR entered into a détente programme of ocean science collaboration. Known as the Polymode program, this focused on studying the structure of currents and eddies in the Atlantic Ocean. For years, hundreds of scientists from the two countries worked together, sharing data, vessels, ports and equipment. Science advanced. Yet when the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979, everything stopped.

So while we need new narratives, we cannot afford to be naïve.

Ocean peacebuilding won’t stop all wars. But it may help prevent some from starting and others from returning. In Northern Ireland, an environmental organisation called the Loughs Agency shows how cross-border institutions can sustain peace while stewarding shared marine ecosystems.

The more deeply peace is built into institutions, processes and standards, the stronger the prospects for avoiding future conflict.

The grand-niece of the dead Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani was living a glamorous lifestyle in Los Angeles before being arrested by ICE.

Sarinasadat Hosseiny, 25, and her mother, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar were arrested after their US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio over ties to the Iranian regime.

Hosseiny had been living in the US since 2015, when she first entered the country on a student visa, before getting permanent residency during the Biden administration in 2023.

Despite her family’s ties to the Iranian regime, Hosseiny’s social media presence showed a life at odds with it.

Posts showed her travelling across the US, visiting Miami, Las Vegas and Alaska, as well as laughing and smiling at music festivals.

Other images showed her aboard private aircraft and yachts and wearing clothes that would be forbidden under Iranian law, including bikinis and miniskirts.

Her mother had called America the ‘Great Satan’ in social media posts as she lived in California, as well as espousing support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terror organisation, according to the State Department.

Both women’s green cards were revoked hours before ICE arrested them in LA on Friday.

Soleimani commanded Iran’s elite Quds Force, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was the country’s most powerful military figure before he was killed in a US drone strike in 2020.

Trump referenced the killing again last week, describing Soleimani as ‘an evil genius’ while claiming Iran would have been in a stronger position in the war had he still been alive.

The arrests form part of a broader crackdown on people with alleged links to Iran.

Soleimani Afshar first entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015 and was granted asylum in 2019, before receiving a green card in 2021, but the DHS said her asylum claim was fraudulent.

The IRGC, which Hosseiny’s mother is alleged to have supported, was named as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2019.

The former commander’s daughter Narjes Soleimani has said the two women ‘have no connection whatsoever’ to her father and accused Washington of fabricating claims.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Trump drops F-bomb and says ‘Praise to Allah’ in wildest social media post yet

MORE: US fighter jet crew member rescued after being shot down in Iran, Trump says

MORE: Donald Trump warns Iran it has ’48h before all hell will rain down’

The boys, aged 15, were travelling on a green Calibre pedal bike, which had been adapted to be electrically-assisted, when they were involved in a crash with a white Fiat 500 car, shortly before 9.40pm on Saturday (April 4).

The crash took place in Danebury Drive, at its junction with Ostman Road.

Recommended reading:

The teenagers, both from the York area, were taken to hospital with serious injuries, where they remain in a serious, but stable condition police say.

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old woman, was injured.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “It is believed the e-bike had travelled down Ostman Road to the junction of Danebury Drive, where it was in collision with the Fiat, which had travelled from Woodlea Avenue on to Danebury Drive.

“Any witnesses to the collision, or anyone who has CCTV, dashcam footage, or relevant information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.

“Please email nicholas.simposon@northyorkshire.police.uk and jack.dodsworth@northyorkshire.police.uk.

“Please quote reference number 12260060016 when passing information.”

Nichole Munro, of Atomix Educational Trust, will take on the challenge in October  to raise funds for Daisy Chain, a Teesside-based charity supporting people with autism and neurodiversity.

Ms Munro said: “The life-changing support that Daisy Chain provides to neurodivergent people matters to me personally and when I can’t help people through my role as CEO at Atomix, I really do try to help other causes.

Nichole Munro in training in more casual attire (Image: Supplied)

“I love the fact that Daisy Chain provides safe spaces and so many activities which are a lifeline for many families across Teesside.

“It’s wonderful to see the difference support makes to people and I understand how life-changing it can be.”

Atomix Educational Trust works with young people who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), many of whom are neurodivergent.

Nichole Munro in training in more casual attire (Image: Supplied)

The trust has chosen Daisy Chain as its charity of the year for 2026.

Ms Munro described the trek as both “exciting and slightly intimidating.”

She said: “The Great Wall of China can be seen from outer space and is 1,000 miles long – and I will be walking 200 miles of that, so I have got to get fit for it.

Nichole Munro in training in more casual attire (Image: Supplied)

“It’s not the tourist’s route that we are taking, it will be steep and uneven terrain we are navigating over multiple days, in both humid and colder temperatures – but even so I said ‘yes’ to the challenge because autism and neurodiversity is so close to my heart.”

She said she is determined to complete the trek and not let down the charity or herself.

Atomix Educational Trust aims to raise £5,000 through Ms Munro’s trek, with all funds going directly to Daisy Chain’s services.

She said: “Although £5,000 sounds like an awful lot of money, everyone can help by giving even a small amount, as all those little donations add up very quickly.

“I’m getting ready for this, as I don’t want to let myself down by being unable to complete the walk, so I’m going to start running again and to improve my fitness I’ve started to do Calisthenics for 15 minutes every day.

“There is a lot of effort that I’m going to have to put into this challenge throughout the summer!”

The trust allows staff up to three volunteering days per year, something Ms Munro says is a “huge commitment” for a small organisation but one that aligns with its values.

She said: “With more than 200 students with EHCPs within our Trust, with a mixture of neurodivergence and every kind of need that you can possibly imagine, we also live and breathe the sort of support other organisations like Daisy Chain provide every single day.

“As a Trust, we strive to enable everybody to achieve success – whatever that might look like to them – because success looks different to everybody.

“That’s why myself and my colleagues and students within the Trust are delighted to support Daisy Chain through this challenge – because what they do really resonates with us.”

Daisy Chain supports more than 8,000 autistic and neurodivergent people and their families across the Tees Valley.

Its services include social clubs, respite care, wellbeing support, independent living skills training, employability programmes and animal therapy.

Daisy Chain’s Great Wall of China Charity Trek in October will see Ms Munro and other supporters take on one of the world’s most iconic routes, covering steep, uneven ground in changing weather conditions.

To support Ms Munro’s fundraising challenge for Daisy Chain, donations can be made at https://daisychainsglobalstepschallenge.enthuse.com/pf/nichole-plummer.

They now earn an extra £12k a year than they did working in the police force

A Cambridgeshire couple quit their jobs in the police force to set up their own business picking up dog poo. David and Shauna Wiles launched their professional dog poop cleaning business in October after leaving their £41,000 and £44,000-a-year jobs with Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

In April 2025, they had already set up a window cleaning business but noticed an opportunity for a side-hussle scooping poop, which is already big business in America.

The married couple, from Peterborough, believe that they are one of a small number of businesses across the UK providing this service. They say that is is mainly used by the elderly and disabled, and also includes cleaning cat litter trays.

David, 42 and Shauna, 47, say the poop-picking side of their business is set to make an extra £12,000 a year and could eventually become more profitable than their £30,000-£40,000 a year window cleaning business. The couple decided to leave the police force because of the strain of the job. David has already left, and Shauna will officially leave on April 22.

David, who worked as an emergency call handler, said: “I left the force because, for me, I felt like I was letting people down – I’m one of those who want to help people and I was finding I was struggling to do that. Some want to speak to officers that day and I’m thinking you’ll be lucky if one comes out at all because we don’t have the resources to send out.

“I spent 11 years with the ambulance service before that and suffered from burn out and I just thought I’ve got bigger priorities in my life like my 10-year-old daughter who I wasn’t seeing as much. I just lost faith in the job and the window cleaning and poop scooping just gives me a chance to do what I enjoy and that is making people happy.”

Shauna, a previous domestic abuse advisor, said: “I got to the point where the job was affecting my mental health given the nature of the victims and cases I was dealing with. It just became too much.”

The couple set up their window cleaning company, Nene Window Cleaning whilst they were still working part-time with the police, but they both decided that they wanted to throw themselves fully into their new business ventures. They noticed the need for poop scooping services whilst cleaning windows and noticing the mess in the gardens.

They thought that as people pay for services such as car cleaning, delivering food, cleaners and dog walkers, why not poop scooping?

David and Shanua have since been helping people who struggle physically with the demands of the messy garden job. The couple, who have three children and are pet owners themselves, have roughly 20 regular customers on a subscription and have privoded one-off cleans for another 30 clients.

Shauna said: “We first noticed the need while window cleaning and coming across dog poo in gardens. We found ourselves having to step around a lot but sometimes our hose would get dirty. David then did a bit of research and found this was huge business in the USA but only a handful of companies were doing the same here.

“There were only about four or five nationwide but they seemed to be low budget and amateur, which I do say with respect, but what we offer is a more full professional works. We wanted the van with signage, uniforms, all the right equipment, including disinfecting gardens afterwards – we don’t think there’s many offering the same level of service.

Advertisement

“We use a horse bucket, which we empty into bags which are double bagged and put into the clients wheelie bins. We did query with the council if we would need waste disposal but as long as its bagged and binned with the homeowner’s permission that is fine. We are also DBS checked and have business liability insurance – we’ve put everything into making this as professional as possible.

“We have our own dog Rufus, a Bichon Frisé crossed with a Shih-tzu, so we’re used to picking up mess and you soon get used to it. You do come across some quite neglected gardens which prove quite tricky, but you adapt.

“We set up in October but have only been fully up and running since February. Despite this we already have around 20 regular customers paying us a £50 a month subscription. It is proving very popular already and bringing in on average £1,000 a month.

“We run the window cleaning and poop scooping as two separate companies and we aim to grow and expand to the point where we are employing staff. We have disabled and elderly people as customers but the service is available to anyone. These days people have gardeners, their shopping delivered or their houses cleaned .

“It could just be a job you don’t like doing, and to be honest it is one of the worst jobs around the garden to do, so there’s really no shame in it. We’re also introducing a grass-cutting service too to mow your lawn once we’ve picked up the poo. Some people might frown at it – but it’s a job we’re happy to help with.”

David added: “There is a need for our services and we are helping elderly people and those with disabilities. Those people were struggling and needed our help. As a result it is really rewarding. We have seen comments saying if you can’t pick up after your dog then you shouldn’t have a dog.

“But we have found those animals are very much loved. The big thing for us was to start a business to try and improve our lives. We wanted to get out of shift work and spend more time with our family. We have realised we are genuinely helping a lot of people.

“We wear specialised PPE and footwear and use tools and disinfectant. This service didn’t exist before and we are getting great feedback from customers.”

Marks and Spencer has launched a new sweet, spring product that’s perfect for the Easter season – but some shoppers have been left saying the same thing after spotting it

Advertisement

Marks & Spencer customers have been left wondering the same thing after spotting a new spring food product, perfectly timed for the final days of the Easter season and bank holiday weekend.

With Easter Sunday here, those who haven’t yet tired of sweet indulgences and are still hankering for more seasonal fare are in for a treat. In the lead-up to the long Easter weekend, lots of retailers have rolled out themed products to help shoppers fully embrace the festivities.

Supermarket and shop shelves have been packed with chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, cakes, hot cross buns, and a great deal more, all available in an array of styles and flavours.

M&S is no exception, pulling out all the stops with an extensive spring-inspired range spanning chocolate animals – including Toby the T Rex, Ralph the Cavapoo, Sunny the Sloth and more – alongside its indulgent filled and loaded Easter eggs, and its much-loved Eggstra Gooey Eggs, which come in various flavours and are cleverly packaged to closely resemble real hens’ eggs.

The beloved British retailer continues to hold its own on the high street, renowned for its premium products across departments including fashion, accessories, homeware, food and more.

The supermarket’s Food Halls have earned considerable praise among shoppers, with new product launches regularly causing a stir across social media.

Its Speckled Egg Cookie Dough sparked excitement after being featured by popular food Instagram account New Foods UK with the simple caption: “New Speckled Egg Cookie Dough spotted at M&S!!”

Listed on the Marks and Spencer website as an “all-butter mix” that’s “packed with milk and white chocolate chunks and Speckled Eggs”, shoppers were eager to purchase it – though many doubted the product’s authenticity since New Foods UK posted about it on April Fool’s Day (April 1).

In the comments section, one Instagram user said: “This needs to come with a disclaimer. Real or fake”.

Another asked: “IS THIS REAL!!!!!!????”

A third said: “Please be real and not an April fools”.

However, a fourth countered: “this is a normal item, why would it be April fools”.

The product is genuine and can be purchased in Marks and Spencer stores.

Before it became the retail giant so known and loved today, Marks and Spencer began life as a humble market stall, launching in Leeds during 1884.

The chain maintains a positive reputation thanks to its quality merchandise across numerous departments. Customers can browse the latest fashion collections and explore an extensive range of homeware, lingerie, beauty items and beyond.

Just as sought-after are its beloved Food Halls, offering both branded food and drinks alongside M&S’s own-label ranges.

The hugely popular New Foods UK has built a loyal online fanbase through its regular updates, images and videos showcasing all the newest sweet treats, snacks and more discovered in supermarkets and retail outlets across the nation.

The account, which has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers across various social media platforms, frequently posts reviews and product updates as well.

Trains are now running after all were cancelled following a fallen tree, which had blocked the rail line between York and Malton shortly after 9.20am this morning (Sunday, April 5).

Recommended reading:

TransPennine Express said that staff had been deployed to fix the issue at midday.

It came after several services were cancelled to and from York.

A separate service, which had been running prior to the incident, was forced to travel back to Malton after the tree fall.

It comes after York and North Yorkshire was placed under a yellow weather warning following Storm Dave – with a separate amber warning issued to North Yorkshire.

As The Press reported, the storm caused widespread damage across the region, with multiple instances of trees blocking roads and falling on vehicles and property roofs.

EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa headed to the coast for a relaxing break after it emerged that she had split from her reality star husband, Dan Osborne.

Advertisement

Jacqueline Jossa has shared a glimpse into a wholesome Easter getaway with her daughters, marking her first trip away since news of her split from husband Dan Osborne emerged.

The EastEnders star looked happy and healthy as she documented the family break on social media, giving fans a peek at their time by the coast of Cornwall.

Jacqueline revealed she had headed off to enjoy the school Easter holidays with daughters Ella, 11, and seven-year-old Mia, sharing lots of clips from their stay at a beachfront holiday park in Newquay.

Making it clear the trip wasn’t sponsored or a gift, she told followers she simply wanted to show “what an amazing time” they’d had together. One sweet video showed the trio enjoying a jam-packed break, soaking up the sunshine and making the most of the seaside location.

Advertisement

News of the trip comes just days after The Sun detailed how they’d “decided to make the split permanent” after trialling a period of living apart.

The couple, who married in 2017 after first meeting in 2013, share two daughters together, while Dan is also dad to son Teddy from a previous relationship.

A source close to the situation said the pair had ultimately decided to part ways after spending time apart earlier this year.

“Everyone knows they’ve had their troubles, but after spending some time apart this year, they’ve decided to make the split permanent,” the source said.

Jacqueline and Dan’s relationship has long been under the spotlight, with a number of allegations and rumours surrounding Dan over the years putting strain on their marriage.

Throughout their 13 years together, the couple have been plagued with multiple cheating claims. Less than a year after they married at Delamere Manor in Cheshire in 2017, the pair split, citing that they couldn’t “make each other happy”. Then in 2018 rumours surfaced that Dan had been unfaithful with Love Island alumni Gabby Allen and Alexandra Cane, who both denied the claims.

Recent reports claimed that it was Dan, who ended their nine-year marriage after he could no longer ‘cope’ with EastEnders star Jacqueline’s behaviour, as she struggled to move beyond his past indiscretions.

Our source adds: “They’ve been so on and off, for Dan, it never really feels over. He’ll try to come back, because in the past he always has, and it’s worked. He’s desperate for them to stay as a family and win back Jac.”

Despite previously working through their issues and attempting to move forward, it’s understood that the pair had been living increasingly separate lives in recent months.

While neither Jacqueline nor Dan has publicly addressed the split, those close to the actress say she is now focusing on her children and moving forward.

Single and thriving – and at the centre of some of the soap’s juiciest storylines – our source says the star is in a much better place. “Jac is going from strength to strength,” they said. “She’s getting some great leads in EastEnders now, and there’s other work coming in as well.”

And we’re told that Jac hasn’t looked back since cutting ties with Dan. “She’s going to enjoy being on her own,” our source said. “She doesn’t need to be with a man to feel validated.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

While weather warnings have now been lifted, authorities are advising the public to ‘remain vigilant’

While the worst of Storm Dave has passed, the aftermath continues to disrupt life across the UK this Easter Sunday.

Utility crews and transport officials remain in a race against time to restore services after the storm lashed the country with hurricane-force winds and unexpected snowfall. Although the Met Office was able to lift several yellow weather warnings earlier than expected as conditions stabilised, the trail of destruction left in the storm’s wake remains a significant hurdle for households and people on the move.

The sheer power of the storm was most evident in North Wales, where a peak gust of 93mph was recorded at Capel Curig.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Other regions felt the brunt of the gales as well, with Yorkshire, Cumbria, and Aberdeenshire all clocking wind speeds well above 70mph.

These fierce conditions resulted in localized blackouts, particularly in Scotland. Engineering teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks are currently deployed across Skye, Caithness, and coastal Aberdeenshire to reconnect a small number of homes that remain without power following a turbulent night.

Infrastructure and transport networks are still reeling from the impact. On the west coast of Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services faced significant cancellations, while motorists across the north struggled with blocked roads caused by fallen trees.

Rail travel was also hit hard. Network Rail Scotland managed to lift most speed restrictions by mid-morning, but passengers in the north west of England were forced onto replacement buses between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester.

In East Yorkshire, the Humber Bridge was temporarily closed to high-sided vehicles before eventually reopening as the winds subsided.

Adding to the seasonal confusion, the storm brought a wintry chill that turned rain into snow across much of Scotland. Residents in Glasgow, Skye, and Inverclyde woke to snow flurries on Easter morning, creating treacherous driving conditions even as the wind warnings were deactivated.

Met Office spokesperson Marco Petagna noted that while the storm pulled away faster than originally predicted, the cold air left in its wake will keep temperatures below the April average for the northern half of the country.

“Storm Dave will clear north east on Sunday morning, leaving sunshine and widespread showers across the UK,” he said. “Northern areas will see the heaviest blustery showers and feel cold, while temperatures elsewhere stay closer to average for early April.”

As the afternoon progresses, the focus has shifted from wind damage to the risk of rising water.

Despite the return of some sunshine, one flood warning remains in place for Scotland, while England faces a combined 18 flood warnings and alerts.

Authorities are advising the public to remain vigilant near coastal areas and riverbanks, as the combination of heavy overnight rain and lingering blustery showers continues to threaten localized flooding.

The Saltburn to Boulby line serves the potash mine at Boulby and the British Steel site at Skinningrove, both major employers in the area.

While the majority of the route is some way inland, it hugs the coast at Huntcliff, Saltburn with only a coastal path, forming part of the Cleveland Way, separating it from the sea.

At a recent Redcar and Cleveland Council climate and environment scrutiny committee, members warned of “cliff instability near rail assets” and questioned officers over the approach being taken.

They also called for better communication with the likes of Network Rail, which maintains rail infrastructure assets, suggesting a “structured forum” should be established with the body and other interested parties to develop current and future strategy.

Saltburn councillor Philip Thomson, a member of the committee, said the line was “very close to the sea”.

Saltburn ward councillor Philip Thomson. Picture/credit: Ian Cooper/Teesside Live. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

He said: “The challenge is monitoring these things.

“The clear lay evidence is that this part of the coast, particularly coming around Huntcliff, has a large question about its longevity.

“The service to the potash line and British steelworks at Skinningrove requires a forward plan, not waiting for further slippage to be planned on the assumption it is going to happen at some time.

“I asked the question [about a forward plan] and the answer came back saying we will just move the path to the other side of the railway line.

“That is all very well if the railway is not to be jeopardised as well.”

Cllr Thomson said Network Rail’s (NR)position was unclear and he had asked the council’s highways department to make a formal approach to NR with a view to a report being brought back to the committee.

Philip Chisholm, from Redcar, a former councillor with Langbaurgh Borough Council – Redcar and Cleveland’s predecessor – contacted the Local Democracy Reporting Service  with his concerns earlier this year.

Philip Chisholm. Picture/credit: Supplied. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

He described how the freight line “clings to the cliff edge” with the Cleveland Way being “squeezed into a narrowing space” between the railway and the sea.

Mr Chisholm also described how last year sections of the walking route had been closed after rock falls.

He said: “The underlying geology has been unstable for decades, but climate change, heavier rainfall, and accelerating coastal erosion have turned a long-term issue into an immediate risk. 

“The question is no longer whether the railway is vulnerable, but whether we are prepared to act before it is lost.”

Mr Chisholm said the rail link was a “working artery” supporting East Cleveland’s industrial economy and freight access was “vital” to both the steelworks at Skinningrove and the Boulby potash mine.

He said: “The loss of the line would ripple through supply chains, employment, and regional competitiveness.

“Despite the scale of the risk, there remains no clearly articulated, publicly visible strategy that convincingly secures the railway’s future.”

Mr Chisholm said essential infrastructure investment could secure a solution in the form of engineered coastal protection and “cliff stabilisation”.

He said: “These are not optional extras. If this line were lost to the sea, the cost of rebuilding – if rebuilding were even possible – would dwarf the cost of acting now.”

Network Rail did not respond to a request for a comment.

A Redcar and Cleveland Council spokeswoman said the coastline in question was subject to a shoreline management plan (SMP) – as with other areas of the UK – with councils and the Environment Agency working together to make assessments as part of regional coastline groups.

She said: “The main purpose of SMPs is to identify long-term policy options to manage the shoreline in a sustainable way.

“The [current] policy is no active intervention…and not to encourage new defences.”

The Tees Valley Combined Authority, which previously set money aside for a feasibility study looking at the potential of passenger services being reinstated to the line, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Last year Redcar and Cleveland Council said planned engineering works to divert a cliff top road at Cowbar, near Boulby, were being brought forward after coastal erosion forecasts were updated and identified a much greater risk of collapse than previously thought.

It has continued to list the issue among several ‘red risks’ included in its corporate risk register, which is reviewed twice a year.