'Disgrace' as cobbled road replaced with tarmac

South East Water has apologised for the temporary fix

A couple visiting Canterbury have spoken of their disappointment after a section of cobbled road in the city centre was covered with tarmac during a repair.

Shaun and Susan Power were visiting the city from Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire in their campervan and were on their way to the cathedral when they saw the section of road in Burgate.

Mr Power said: "It should be the same with these old cobbles rather than that old nasty tarmac. Disgrace."

Nick Bell, South East Water's head of water supply in Kent, apologised and said the road reinstatement had not been completed.

Shaun and Susan Power were visiting the city from Cleethorpes

Mr Power added: "If they dig it up like that then they have got to do a proper repair, haven't they?"

Mr Bell explained that the interim surface, which was first reported on by KentOnline, was laid following urgent repairs to a burst water main in Burgate.

He added that backfilling the excavation quickly to allow the road to reopen was a priority and the company was expecting to return to reset the granite cobbles from 28 August.