A POTHOLED stretch of the rural A65 - described as "one of the worst stretches of road" a councillor has ever seen - has been temporarily repaired after months of lobbying.

"Fed-up" neighbours at Lupton, near Kirkby Lonsdale, and Cllr Roger Bingham, have been seeking a complete resurfacing of the badly eroded two-mile stretch of road towards Hutton Roof.

Resident Sheena Pring told the Gazette several cars had been damaged by waterlogged holes in the "crumbling" tarmac. Motorists had felt anxious about the poor state of the road, with its silted-up drains and deep puddles, she said.

The fragile condition of an 18th century bridge over Lupton Beck has also been giving locals cause for concern after being hit by an HGV two years ago.

Mrs Pring said there had been several occasions when "huge juggernauts" had got stuck on Badgergate Bridge - known locally as Lupton Bridge - because foreign drivers were following sat nav and had not observed warning signs. On one occasion the police had to be called to help clear a road blockage.

Mrs Pring said the bridge was unsuitable for heavy traffic and neighbours were very worried the historic dressed stonework was close to collapse.

A CCC spokesperson told the Gazette the council would be considering extra warning signs for drivers approaching the bridge.

"A recommendation will be made to the South Lakeland local committee following an analysis of current signage and how this may be improved or added to," he said.

Last week's "temporary surface repairs" on the A65 at Lupton were "not intended to be a permanent solution", he added, telling the Gazette: “Several sections of the A65 will be resurfaced or surface dressed in the new financial year.”

Cumbria county and South Lakeland district councillor Roger Bingham said he had been "pestering" the highways department at length about the road's state. "I've been going on endlessly about it. The last straw came about ten days ago when a car was seriously damaged in a big pothole which I reported; that's been filled in."

Although the road is now looking "much better", Cllr Bingham added: "I fear if we have any more heavy rain they [the temporary repairs] won't last long but I'm holding out for a thorough repair to be done in due course."

He also joined with residents in appealing for Badgergate Bridge to be fully repaired.