A "CHEAP slurry" surfacing to fix a hazardous pavement in a historic town centre road has been branded a disgrace.

Work started this week to resurface the path in South Street, Manningtree after years of fighting for repairs.

But the quality has been slammed as inadequate for the conservation area filled with historic buildings.

Manningtree Mayor Mark Morsley, said: "It's slurry and it's exactly how it sounds - it's like marmite with peanuts in.

"It has to be the cheapest, nastiest path job I've ever seen, it's abosultely horrible, I can't believe it.

"I've seen dodgy car parks done better than this.

"In South Street all the properties are lovely listed buildings, all red brick in keeping with the town - this pavement is a disgrace."

Manningtree Town Council has also been calling for repairs to nearby High Street for more than two years.

Earlier this year councillors sent more than 60 photographs of defects in the footpaths of High Street and South Street demanding urgent action.

An Essex Highways spokesperson, said: “Engineers have used a nationally recognised process for the South Street pavement resurfacing work.

"Defective areas are repaired and then the whole surface is treated, which seals it to prevent water ingress and deterioration.

"The process has been used successfully throughout Essex for a number of years with good long lasting results.

“We plan to investigate the carriageway in South Street in the new financial year.”