FED-UP residents claim resurfacing work carried out by Essex County Council looks like the work of “cowboy builders”.

Neighbours in Bedford Road, Laindon, have complained to council bosses, after contractors tarmaced over grids, splashed black asphalt up new curb stones and left parts of the road crumbling.

Residents say grids have filled with loose gravel, putting them at risk of flooding.

Resident, Bob Taylor, 65, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting.

“You can see the yellow paint from the single yellow lines through the tarmac.

“The tarmac has crumbled and the drains are filling with stones which we are worried about in case it floods.

“Quite a few of the residents have emailed Essex Highways, but there has been a complete lack of communication.

“If you had paid to have this work done privately, you just would not pay the contractors.

“Essex County Council say the work has been signed off, but it looks like a bunch of cowboys did it.” Mr Taylor added he was also worried about safety in the road, after the works.

He said: “The way they have done the ramps on the drop curbs is very awkward.

“We have friends with wheelchairs and pushchairs and it is difficult for them.”

Mark Ellis, Ukip Essex County councillor for Laindon, said: “I have received a number of complaints from residents who are all unhappy about the road. I have been in contact with Rodney Bass, the councillor responsible for Highways and have requested the road is reinspected.

Some of the road has broken up and there is bitumen splashed all over the curb stones.

“It really is terrible, to walk down there you would not think the road had just been done.”

However, an Essex Highways spokesman said the council did not agree there was a problem with the works. The spokesman said: “We have recently carried out micro surfacing works at this site, which involved using a widely-used method of resurfacing these type of roads.

Staff have assessed the road and are satisfied no further works are required.

“The surface will continue to improve over time.”