FED-UP councillors are hopeful they will soon have news on deteriorating footpaths in a town centre.

Manningtree Town Council has been locked in a battle with Essex highways for more than two years to try to get the town’s notorious pavements fixed.

Councillors believe the worst problems are in High Street and South Street.

Councillor Carlo Guglielmi, who is also an Essex county councillor for the area, told a meeting he had been in contact with highways bosses and they were set to get back to him with dates for work to start.

The council had been considering sending a giant envelope to County Hall to show the pavement issues were no longer a small problem.

Mayor Mark Morsley said: “There does seem to be something happening. The big envelope is still on the back burner if needed.”