A KIND gesture to improve an unmade road has turned sour after residents criticised the work.

People in William Street, Auckland Park, near Bishop Auckland have been campaigning for a proper road surface for more than 30 years.

But recent work to resurface the tracks leading to the street has been criticised.

Resident Brian Ward said: "If this is what you call a proper road it's a joke.''

Dene Valley Partnership enlisted the help of RJB Mining and Durham County Council to put chippings on the road.

The county council gave 200 tonnes of road chippings, worth £800 and RJB Mining used three vehicles and four labourers to the lay the road for free. Mr Ward's neighbour, Daphne Russell, said: "It is a big improvement and we are very grateful to RJB. They are the only ones who have really helped.''

But residents feel they have waited long enough and have drawn up a petition to Wear Valley District Council.

Mr Ward said: "The bad weather has already started to wash it away."

Wear Valley councillor Margaret Ingledew, who is a member of the partnership, said she was disappointed by the residents' reaction, adding: "Nobody ever said this was a permanent solution. The partnership thought it was doing the residents a favour."