CONTRACTORS have been ordered to relay for free part of a main road they resurfaced last year because it is starting to break up.

A section of the new material put down between Eastover and Shires Garage, in Langport, is showing “early signs of failure and is defective”, according to Somerset County Council.

The A378 will be closed over three evenings, starting on Monday, September 14, from 6.30pm to 11.30pm so that the surface can be removed and replaced.

Cllr David Fothergill, the council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “I can understand that people will be frustrated at further work in Langport and I apologise for the inconvenience.

“For context, we receive 20,000 tonnes of material every year and it is very rare that we find failures of this nature.

“However, when we do, we have the necessary safeguards in place to make sure any defective material is replaced by the contractor at no cost to the taxpayer.

“Our priority is to make sure our roads are safe and properly maintained and I hope people can understand why this work is necessary.”

While work is underway, the A378 will be closed from the junction with Eastover to the junction with the A372 at Shires Garage. A diversion route will be signposted.