A POPULAR road in the Forest that has been closed since April is due to reopen next Friday (November 4).

Structural work on the B4234 New Road, between Cannop and Parkend, has seen 141 giant steel screws put into the embankment.

The screws, known as ’ground anchors’, are in place to stop the road from slipping down the embankment in the future.

The final part of the work will be carried out next week with a new road surface being laid on Monday and Tuesday.

Some of the old road planings and old road materials removed from the site during the work have been given to Bream Sports Club to help re-establish their football pitch and improve access to their sports fields.

The remainder of the planings have been given to the Forestry Commission for use on their local roads and car parks.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said: "I’d like to thank local people in the Forest for their patience over the summer while we’ve been getting this crucial land stabilisation job done. Our major investment down in Cannop will protect this popular road for the future."

Cllr Richard Leppington, local county councillor for Blakeney and Bream, added: "This has been an amazing piece of construction work and I’ll be glad to see the diversion finally lifted and the road reopen again. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to help Bream Sports Club too by donating some of the old road materials."