Priory's gates to remain open following trial

The gates to Tynemouth Priory were shut overnight in 2005 in response to anti-social behaviour

Gates to a priory's ruins will remain open to the public overnight for at least the rest of the summer following a trial.

The outer gates at Tynemouth Priory and Castle have been closed at night since 2005 to protect the site from damage caused by anti-social behaviour.

During a two-week trial, English Heritage said it had seen a "notable increase" in general litter, dog waste, and unauthorised car meets on the moat.

But it said it was pleased to give locals access to the "beloved" site, and would keep the gates open seven days a week while monitoring it closely.

A spokesperson added: "There will be times during the winter months where the moat will be closed."

The medieval monastic church sits atop a headland overlooking the River Tyne as it enters the North Sea.

English Heritage had hoped the access trial would rebuild trust with the community "with a renewed sense of shared responsibility".

A spokesperson said: "We are pleased to give the community additional access to areas of this historic site for their enjoyment in the evenings as we know how beloved this site is locally, and thus far we feel this has been received positively."

The charity asked people to not bring in unauthorised vehicles after hours and reminded users to dispose of litter and dog waste.

The gate at the bottom of the site will also remain open overnight.