Drone photo: Aerial Eye, Ormskirk

Summer's here - and how! - and what better way to enjoy time with the family than a quiet country walk?

And folk living on High Grove Park are lucky enough to have a great footpath on their doorstep - if they're prepared to do a little 'law breaking' to use it...

The linear path from Ormskirk to Burscough was planned by the borough council years ago as part of the Taylor Wimpey development to offer safer travel for walkers and bikers away from the busy High Lane (A59) to and from Burscough via Abbey Lane.

It's currently fenced off at the Ormskirk end, coming to a dead end after a landowner at Abbey Lane evidently refused the authorities access to land near the Burscough dog walking field.

It's still a great walk with some lovely views - and so far it's been relatively undiscovered by any local miscreants; what a shame the linear path might never be completed...

"Don't speak too soon," winked a local borough councillor enigmatically when QLocal reporter Roger Blaxall (who walks the path with Pippa) asked about what might happen as the estate nears completion.

"Never say never!" he added.