An elongate body adapted to bend in a single plane, comprises a rope extending within a succession of individual tubular elements closely spaced along the rope. Each element has on two opposite sides of the plane an extended section engaging a recess in its neighbouring element, the profiles of the section and recess allowing relative rotation of adjacent elements in said plane. The tubular elements thus form an exoskeleton around the rope which must be breached before the rope can be cut. The geometry of the tubular elements can be such that notwithstanding gaps, the rope cannot be readily accessed unless the exoskeleton is broken.