An attempt to put the Langness public inquiry 'on hold' may have been deferred, but only by a month.

Tynwald was told on Tuesday that no progress had been made in arranging such an inquiry, and no funds had been set aside.

That prompted Michael MHK David Cannan to withdraw his urgent motion, asking for the inquiry to be 'stayed', as he believed the matter was no longer urgent.

However, with the landowner Jeremy Clarkson taking legal action to settle the drawn-out footpath dispute, Mr Cannan, who has described the inquiry as 'a waste of public money', will come back with his proposal next month

Transport Minister David Anderson (pictured) says it looks like any inquiry will be chaired by an official from off the Island.

He told Manx Radio:

"We need to find somebody who has the relevant experience and is completely independent, and to do that, it's quite obvious to us, we aren't going to find anybody on Island.

"We are now contacting a body in the UK which has this sort of people, it has this sort of experience, of public rights of way.

"The UK is the best place to go, and England and Wales in particular - their legislation is very close to the legislation we have adopted - and we hope to have somebody in the next few weeks.

"Obviously there is a process to go through, so I can't see it happening before the early summer, and hopefully come to a conclusion and maybe aim for bringing a decision back to Tynwald, maybe in October."