Road closed as surface melts in hot weather

One motorist claimed she was forced to spend £300 on new tyres after using the road before the closure

A road in Staffordshire was closed over the weekend when the surface melted in the heat, the county council has said.

Staffordshire County Council reopened the stretch of road in Cannock on Monday after treating the road surface with granite dust.

Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic highways, said: "We took the decision to temporarily close Gorsemoor Road in Cannock at the weekend after we were made aware that the heat was affecting the condition of the road surface."

According to the Met Office, temperatures in Cannock reached highs of 29C (84F) on the weekend with Mason adding it was "not unusual" for road surface temperatures to hit 50C (122F) during a heatwave.

Mason added the repairs would not come at an expense to taxpayers, after the council found work carried out had not met the required standard.

He said: "Any work carried out on our highway network needs to meet our design and quality standards and, on this occasion, the surface treatment did not perform.

"We will work with our contractor to arrange for the necessary repairs to take place at no expense to the taxpayer," added the Reform UK councillor.

Chris Harborow from Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council, said one resident suffered injuries after getting stuck on the road.

"One lady's shoe actually got stuck in the tar and she fell in the road," he said.

"A car had to do an emergency stop and the local pharmacist helped her out as she had a couple of light scuffs."

He added: "One lady, who's a nurse, has ended up with her tyres absolutely covered [in the road surface]."

Tony Johnson, the Labour leader of Cannock Chase District Council, said he had also received reports that vehicle tyres had been damaged, and said he was concerned about the cost of repairing them.

One motorist, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC she had spent more than £300 on replacement tyres after driving on Gorsemoor Road before the closure.