COMIC actor Bernard Cribbins once sang a humorous hit single about men digging a never-ending hole in the road.

But contractors have had the smile wiped off their faces by new legislation, coming into effect from April 1, giving councils across the UK the power to fine public utilities up to £500 for every day they run over their agreed completion date for work.

Middlesbrough Borough Council will not only be able to fine power, water and telephone companies up to £500 a day, every day they run over their set timescale, it will also be the first in Britain allowed to charge utilities a daily rent for digging up a road.

The charge, to encouragefirms to finish work promptly, could be as high as £1,000 a day for busy roads where excavations cause disruption.

Motoring organisations welcome the scheme.

"Road users face daily congestion and mayhem caused by holes in the road," the RAC Foundation said last night.

Middlesbrough council is in discussions with the Department of Transport to consider the practicalities of the scheme.

No decision has been made on what charge to levy companies.

A spokeswoman for the National Joint Utilities Group said they opposed what was "a tax on carrying out statutory duties to provide essential services''.