A MINEHEAD hotelier has criticised highways workers for closing the main tourist route between West Somerset and North Devon at the peak of the holiday season.

Bryan Leaker, who runs the Parks Guest House, said bus-loads of tourists heading for the district were forced to turn back towards North Devon when the A39 between Lynmouth and Porlock was closed without warning last week.

He said the tourism industry was already struggling with the impact of the economic downturn and poor summer weather and the closure had made things even worse.

"They should be promoting tourism and I can't believe no one gave it a second thought when they decided to close the main road into Minehead in August," Mr Leaker said.

The A39 was closed last Tuesday for resurfacing work, but the Free Press has been told the work should have been done without the road being closed.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council apologised for any inconvenience caused by the unplanned closure and said discussions had taken place with a contractor to ensure it did not happen again.

The spokesman said: "Somerset County Council, jointly with the surface dressing contractor, planned to carry out the surface dressing works without the need to close the A39 at the top of Porlock Hill.

"However, for safety reasons, the contractor's on-site supervisor deemed it necessary to close the A39 for the protection of the travelling public and his workforce.

"This action should not have taken place without first contacting Somerset County Council as the highway authority.

"Discussions with the contractor have taken place to ensure this does not reoccur in the future."