MORE than 100 metres of new railings are to be installed along York's historic city walls, it was revealed today.

The safety barriers will go up along one of the narrowest and most heavily-used parts of the walkway, near Micklegate Bar.

John Oxley, City of York Council's archaeologist, said: "Additional safety railings will be added to the section of the walls between Micklegate Bar and Toft Tower before the end of March."

At present, nothing stands between walkers on this narrow part of the walls and a drop of more than three-and-a-half metres to the ground below, should they be pushed or lose their footing.

A council spokeswoman said: "The section was highlighted for work because it is over three-and-a-half metres in height, because of its narrowness, the fact that it is heavily used and the occurrence of the sudden changes in the width of the walkway."

The council will close the stretch of footway for ten days while it fits 105 metres of railings.

President of York Civic Trust Darrell Buttery's said: "You would have a frightening fall if you were to lose your footing."

But he added: "We're very anxious that there shouldn't be an intrusive structure at all - only one that is absolutely essential.

" With health and safety having gone into overdrive in the last few years, it surprises me that those very obvious danger points weren't tackled years ago."

Mr Oxley said: "The council carries out a health and safety audit of the bar walls on an annual basis and necessary work is carried out accordingly.

"We try to maintain the balance between ensuring that modern health and safety standards are observed, whilst not detracting from the appearance of the walls."

The news comes almost a year after The Press reported that 70 metres of safety railings had been put up on the bar walls walkway between Layerthorpe and Monk Bar.