A NEW route linking Beaminster to Crewkerne is on the agenda after the tunnel landslip that buried two people last month.

At a public meeting in the town, Inspector Mike Darby from Dorset Police , Alun Morgan from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Matt Jones from Dorset County Council faced a capacity audience in the public hall.

They were there to explain the events on the night of the tragedy and why it took so long to find victims Rosemary Snell and Michael Rolfe. Mr Jones, county council engineer for bridges and structures, was asked why the council had cut down trees that would have kept the land stable or why it had apparently not noticed cracks in the bridge or a culvert draining water from the bridleway onto the soil above the tunnel.

It was this culvert, said an audience member, which caused the landslip.

Mr Jones said huge files from the council had been sent to the coroner for the inquest and he was unable to discuss details that might form part of his investigation. He said no option – including bypassing the tunnel – was being ruled out.

He said: “We will not be discounting any option. We need to review all options which is why we cannot say how long it is going to be take to fix.”