Leader of Mendip District Council, Cllr Ros Wyke, was pleased to welcome Sir Vince Cable MP on one of his last engagements as leader of the Liberal Democrats, as he visited Mendip recently.

Sir Vince Cable was touring Somerset meeting new Liberal Democrat Leaders of Somerset authorities.

While in Mendip Sir Vince Cable joined councillors and took a bike ride along the Strawberry Line path between Dulcote and Wells.

Cllr Wyke said: ''It was a pleasure to welcome Sir Vince to Mendip and to discuss and look at the proposals and opportunities for the extension of the Strawberry Line.

"It was great that he had the chance to experience a part of the route.

''We are working closely with The Strawberry Line Society to ensure that communities can be reconnected and allow the people of Mendip and beyond to enjoy the outdoors safely on a cycle path.''

The Strawberry Line is a stretch of the former railway line, now a cycle path, however there are areas of missing links.

The ambition is to re-establish the links to create an 85-mile, traffic free cycle path called The Somerset Circle linking Bristol, Bath, the Mendip Hills, the Somerset Levels and the coast.

The Strawberry Line Society are proactively seeking to secure the cycle path through the civic site in Shepton Mallet.

The aspiration is to provide a multi-user link from Station Road through to the Millennium Way which links into Tadley Acres.

Ultimately, the Strawberry Line East Group wish to secure the missing link from Shepton to Dulcote to connect the route to Wells.

To learn more about The Strawberry Line, visit this website: www.thestrawberryline.org.uk.