A breakthrough has been reached in the long-running saga of a Norwich street shut since last Christmas - after it was agreed the building which caused its closure should be demolished.

Finkelgate, which connects Ber Street to Queens Road, has been closed since Christmas Eve last year,.

Four homes were evacuated after cracks appeared in one of them and, the following day, signs of subsidence were spotted in the road.

The road was closed to traffic, and has remained shut ever since.

The city council is responsible for the road, but because the homes are private, the authority has not been able to start work to get the road re-opened, because insurers had not decided whether the affected homes should be rebuilt or knocked down.

However, yesterday, London-based loss adjustor Crawford & Company announced the breakthrough which could see the road reopened.

A spokesman said: 'Crawford & Company has worked with a number of parties to resolve this complicated claim. 'The health and safety of residents in Finkelgate is of paramount importance and due to the significant damage to the property a Dangerous Structure Notice was placed on the building by the local authority.

'It has been agreed by all parties that the best course of action is for the property to be demolished and the exposed party wall repaired.

'Crawford will be making a site visit with all relevant parties to discuss next steps including discussion on opening the road.'

A city council spokesman said the authority was pleased at the development and said: 'The council has to date been working hard on this matter. The investigations we have carried out indicate that it would be safe to open the road, initially allowing traffic one way.

'It is in everyone's interest to get this road open as soon as possible and we will continue to do all we can to apply whatever means necessary to move this forward.'

• What do you think of the hold-up in getting Finkelgate reopened? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk