ROAD contractors have been shown the stop light after starting work on Ludlow’s broken roads.

Shropshire Council has received £1.3 million from the Government to mend nearly 20,000 pot holes in roads in the town.

Ludlow town centre was high on the list of priorities but residents have complained that they took the enthusiasm to get on with it too far by starting at 3.30am.

Now Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council, says highways officials have agreed to start later in the morning.

He said local residents were unhappy when workmen began drilling out pot holes on Galderford Corner near the Queen’s Pub and Co-op.

Local residents and visitors in holiday cottages were disturbed.

“I still have no idea why this work was scheduled for such a stupid hour of the morning,” said Andy Boddington.

He said there was concern that the contractors did not want the work to cause traffic disruption.

“But I do not think that the convenience of traffic takes precedence over a good night’s sleep,” added Cllr Boddington.

“In any event, why are we repairing potholes when this road is due to resurfaced in the next few months? Though not, I hope, at 3.30am in the morning.”

An official from Shropshire Council is reported to have apologised for the disturbance.