PORLOCK residents living in the shadow of the site of a controversial new road they fought but failed to stop had to endure 14 hours of construction deliveries in a single day over the bank holiday weekend.

Without warning, hundreds of tons of hardcore were transported by tractor and trailer for the road, which will run from Villes Lane to Sparkhayes Lane.

And the unexpected deliveries through The Meadows from 8am to 10pm last Saturday have left people living there outraged.

They say there were assured before planning permission was even granted for the new link route - which will block off the current entrance to Villes Lane by breaking through into The Meadows - that no contractors' vehicles would go past their homes.

"The mess and mud left on the road from these hardcore deliveries is unbelievable," said local resident Diane Griffiths.

"Nobody had any idea this was going to happen and why did it have to be delivered on a Saturday - and over a bank holiday weekend?

"It caused so much disturbance and upset - people felt utterly helpless because we couldn't contact any of the authorities to find out what was going on.

"We feel completely put upon."

Residents even called the police on several occasions and officers attended and spoke to the contractors carrying out the work.

Somerset County Council won permission for the road last autumn, which is linked to the development of seven open-market homes and 15 affordable properties on nearby land.

This week the authority apologised for any inconvenience caused to local residents.

But a spokesman said the material had been delivered to the site last Saturday, on a weekend, "to minimise disruption".

She said the material was surplus from another construction project in Minehead - a new coach park on the former market site near the railway station.

"Villes Lane was not adequate for the machinery transporting the material and so the contractor made the decision to use The Meadows access," said the spokesman.

"The inadequacy of Villes Lane for the machinery had not been reviewed by the contractor before the work began and they did not advise us of this change to use The Meadows.

"It was due to be completed by 5.30pm. However, it took longer than anticipated and we apologise for this.

"We know the police attended but we understand that they were satisfied that the works were being done in an appropriate manner."

The spokesman said the road through The Meadows had been inspected on Tuesday and, although it was "coloured" from the mud, there were no large amounts on the surface.

"The contractor is clearing mud from the site entrance at The Meadows," she said.

"We have spoken to the contractor to make sure that in future this does not happen again and that work is done in accordance within the terms and times.

"A review is also being done by the contractor. All future work will now be subject to notifications of times and means of access to Somerset County Council."

However, Eileen Davies, who also lives in The Meadows, said she feared for the future.

"Is this what we have to look forward to over the coming months?" she said.

"We're not just trying to make trouble, we are simply fearful of what it will be like living here.

"This is a quiet residential road and I was assured by someone from the county council at one of the many meetings about the road that the construction vehicles would not go through The Meadows.

"I had to walk through piles of mud when I left my house last Saturday - I'm just glad I didn't have to try and get the car out."

The proposed road sparked a bitter campaign when it was first mooted, leaving Porlock divided.

Opponents collected more than 400 signatures in a petition, submitted over 30 individual letters and collated a questionnaire on the issue.

Highways chiefs said the affordable homes - much needed in the village - could only be developed if the road was built.

And the county council said it could only afford to construct it if the scheme included open-market housing - flying in the face of planning policies adopted by Exmoor National Park, the planning authority.

But anti-road campaigners insisted there were no accident statistics to back up the claims that the existing junction at Villes Lane and Dunster Steep needed to be improved and voiced fears that the new road would cut the village in half.

However, the national park granted permission for all three elements of the scheme, bending its policies, and following a plea by Porlock Parish Council for it to go ahead.