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Little Paxton road repairs due as surface ripped off in floods

Steve Hubbard/BBC Road with broken surfaceSteve Hubbard/BBC
Mill Lane in Little Paxton has been shut after the surface broke away following flooding

Emergency repairs are to be carried out to a road after its surface crumbled away in recent floods.

Residents in Little Paxton and St Neots, Cambridgeshire, have had to make detours after the surface of Mill Lane broke apart.

Mark Hawkins, who has lived nearby for 40 years and uses the road "about ten times a day", wants it raised to avoid repeated closure in winter.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it planned to carry out repairs on Monday.

Mr Hawkins, who runs a local cleaning business, said the area between the lock and two bridges was prone to annual flooding from the Great Ouse, but this was the worst damage he had seen.

Steve Hubbard/BBC Road with broken surfaceSteve Hubbard/BBC
The bitumen surface has come away to reveal old Victorian cobbles

His social media post calling for better flood defences saw more than 100 comments in support.

"St Neots to Little Paxton would be passable, but the road surface floated away," he posted.

"Time for a proper rebuilding stronger and higher with flood defences so we can keep the road open.

"This could happen every year if its just a tarmac layer added."

Steve Hubbard/BBC River Great Ouse at Little Paxton, CambsSteve Hubbard/BBC
The River Great Ouse straddles either side of Mill Road and floods it annually, according to local people

A county council spokeswoman said: "We're aware of the damage caused by the river due to the recent flooding and have closed Mill Lane, near Little Paxton bridge, whilst the road dries out," the council said.

"We will be carrying out emergency resurfacing works on Monday and then the road will reopen."

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