Residents on a quiet road in Farnham have been left picking up the pieces as a pavement started to crumble within hours of being laid.

Joe and Samantha Higgins were surprised when contractors laid tarmac on the “old but fine” paths around White Cottage Close last Tuesday.

But the “bodged” results left the couple and their neighbours shocked, as sections can be broken away and even pulled back with ease.

“It was peeling away less than two days after it was laid,” said Mr Higgins, adding: “The work they did was shocking.

“They’re just trying to cut corners and these fixes aren’t fixes at all, they’re just papering over the cracks.

He added: “The old pavement looked fine but now it’s worse than it was before.”

The crumbling pavement has been called a trip hazard while the poor workmanship was also showcased last weekend on ITV Meridian News.

Sure enough, engineers were back on White Cottage Close on Tuesday morning (February 18) to check out the results of last week’s work, with another attempt due to take place at the time of publishing.

A spokesperson for Surrey County Council confirmed they are aware of “problems” on White Cottage Close adding that contractors would return this week to fix it.

The saga hasn’t impressed SCC Farnham North councillor, Catherine Powell, as she raised the issue with a cabinet member last Friday, but reportedly wasn’t kept up to date by the officer involved.

She said: “I am aware that the work is going to be done at the contractor's cost.

“I am extremely disappointed in the quality of the work that was done and the lack of follow through from the officer in terms of keeping me, as the local councillor, up to date with progress on resolving the issue.”