WALKERS and letterboxers were left angry and disappointed after they were forced to cancel their weekend hike because the Loop Road had been closed with no warning.

The decision by the Duchy of Cornwall to close the moorland road, which leads up to the popular Cranmere Pool, means keen walkers are no longer able to drive down the five-kilometre stone track, which was put down by the Ministry of Defence in 1956.

The decision to close off the road to cars was made because it was deemed to pose a risk to the safety of the public.

But organiser of the online petition on behalf of walkers and letterboxers, Maureen Sowerby, said she felt let down by the lack of notice given.

She said: 'I received a letter from the Duchy, which was dated Monday, September 14.

'The letter said they were going to close the road on Friday, September 18.

'It wasn't posted until Thursday, September 17 and I received it on the Friday.

'By this time I had already organised for walkers to go out that weekend.'

Mrs Sowerby said she would like the Duchy to leave some access open: 'We wanted the east side road left open. From where they have put the barrier up, it's now a six-mile walk and we are losing the light now, so it is a long way to walk.

'It's okay for the youngsters, but for older people like myself, or for disabled people, we just can't do it.

'People come from all over and they associate Dartmoor with Cranmere Pool.

'Why couldn't the Duchy have given people more notice?

'We appreciate that we've lost the battle, but we're still not happy with it — why they couldn't have just left the east side open? It's absolutely ridiculous.'

Mrs Sowerby said they would also have liked the road kept open longer: 'It would have been great if they could have kept the Loop Road open until the end of September.

'It's all very sad — one of the walkers even put RIP in the book at Cranmere Pool.

'I've got letterboxes out there, but soon they are going to be litter boxes, so I need to be able to go and get them in.'

A letter sent to Mrs Sowerby in May from a land steward for the Duchy, stated there would be clear signage to demarcate the closure points and a marked change in the road surface in those areas.

It also said walkers, cyclists, horse riders and those using off-road disabled buggies, would be able to use the full length of the road, subject to the usual live firing restrictions that are in place at present.

It was also noted that commoners' vehicles and those belonging to the Dartmoor National Park Authority and MoD would have access, subject to the same firing restrictions, as well as emergency service vehicles.

Deputy land steward for the Duchy of Cornwall, Tom Stratton, said: 'The Duchy fully appreciates that any restrictions on access generate significant debate and indeed that they will not find favour with all.

'However, we have received several comments of support in relation to the implementation of the proposals and we trust that those individuals who are not in favour will be understanding of the reasoning behind what we are striving to achieve, in relation to the appropriate long-term management of this area of Dartmoor.'