A HERITAGE railway has launched an emergency appeal for £100,000 amid warnings a disastrous landslip is a serious threat to the future of the line through the Yorkshire Dales.

This year was due to be one of the busiest and most lucrative in the history of the Wensleydale Railway with the arrival of the Tour de France.

But volunteers have been stopped in their tracks by the major landslip, which is undermining the line.

They are now appealing for donations and help to try to get the line open before the start of the main tourist season at Easter.

The 16-mile long line, which runs through some of the most scenic parts of Wensleydale, is currently closed at Akebar, near Leyburn.

An embankment which collapsed last year and was repaired at a cost of £40,000 has now collapsed again. Rail managers say this is a more serious fault, which will cost £100,000 to fix.

General manager Nigel Park said: “This problem has the potential to disrupt the whole 2014 season which would be disastrous, particularly with the need for us to transport people to Leyburn for the Tour de France and our ability to keep freight off the roads as equipment returns from Afghanistan.”