POOR tarmac on a section of a £1.2 million scheme to prevent flooding in New Road had to be replaced on Monday evening – a month after it opened.

The stretch of road was reduced to a single lane for four-and-a-half months in a bid to prevent flooding – with the work completed nine days late on May 16.

But highway chiefs were forced to take action after many motorists driving through the city centre complained the road surface was worse than before.

Worcestershire County Council said the "substandard" road resurfacing came at no cost to the authority and caused no disruption to cars.

Michael Gale, from Worcester, wrote to the Worcester News to say he was somewhat surprised by how rough the brand new tarmac surface was and that he thought something was wrong with his car’s suspension.

On the Worcester News website, 'Mad Dave' said he "could not believe what he was seeing" when the road was being resurfaced late on Monday evening.

He said; "As you come out of town, the right lane was having the top layer of tarmac burnt off it.

"This morning it's all been resurfaced and the yellow lines repainted. Afraid it's the blind leading the blind."

"The new tarmac that they laid less than a month ago. And I don't just mean half an inch, they took a big chunk off the top surface for the length of the road."

Also on our website,‘Arthur Blenkinsop’ said he thought he had a flat tyre the first time he drove along New Road.

Motorists commenting on our Facebook page were also critical.

Simon Turner said: "Absolutely agree, the road surface is awful. It's like driving over rumble strips."

Mike Preece added: "This is embarrassing, took this long just to ‘raise’ the road, and you can’t make the thing flat! It feels like you've got four flat tyres."

Charlotte Giles, again on our Facebook page, said: "Thought it was my car too. I can feel my wheel shake."

Rebecca Ryland said her car shook like jelly when she was driving on New Road.

Andy Mitchell said he felt sick driving over the newly surfaced road.

Kate Wilkinson said: "I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Genuinely thought the same since I've been driving that way again."

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: "A section of sub-standard road surfacing was replaced overnight on Monday June 18 at no cost to the authority and with no disruption to traffic."