Residents living on Holy Island fear they could be cut off for days at a time as a build-up of sand threatens their link to the mainland.

Holy Island - or Lindisfarne - is cut off from the Northumberland mainland twice a day, when the sea flows across the causeway.

But there have been reports of a build-up of sand and water on the road long after the tide has gone out.

Some islanders fear strong winds and high tides this winter could mean they could be cut off for a long time and have urged Northumberland County Council to take action.

Because the whole of area is a site of special interest you can't just go in with bulldozers and flatten an area away

Dougie Watkin, county councillor

Gary Watson, shop owner on Holy Island, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "There is a stretch of sand that has been moving and causing the water not to clear from the causeway

"There is quite a stretch of water to drive through."

Northumberland County Councillor Dougie Watkin said the council is taking the problem seriously.

"It's just one of those things.

"Like snow in winter, the dunes are a living system and because of west winds sand has built up on the causeway.

"Because the whole of area is a site of special interest you can't just go in with bulldozers and flatten an area away.

"We did take action last year... we put in 400 yards of new ditching which was very, very expensive because of nature considerations.

"Unfortunately it hasn't worked.

The mudflats around Holy Island are teeming with wildlife

"A long term strategy is being looked at. The highways officers are also looking at doing something immediately."

Phil Davey, site manager for Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, said a balance had to be struck.

He said:"There is a Catch 22 element... we also have to fit in with the shoreline development plan which is being developed for the whole north Northumberland coast.

"Feasibility studies need to be undertaken... public safety comes first

"We also have an obligation under the habitat regulations to maintain the mudflats and beaches of special interest."

Legal issue

Mr Watkin added: "Part of the problem we have got is a legal situation... at present we have signs on the causeway that say if water has reached a certain point, do not cross.

"We have reached the crazy situation where water is beyond those signs.

"We could actually have a situation where somebody drove through this water, stopped on an incoming tide and floated away."

"That would put the council in a very difficult position."