THE cobbles on Alston’s Front Street are set to return.

Residents reacted in horror two years ago after road resurfacing work led to the cobbles being replaced with Tarmac.

The work involved essential maintenance to ensure the road surface was 100 per cent safe, according to Cumbria County Council.

But the council has now announced it will be installing a trial section of cobbles on the street in the spring.

The two-metre by six-metre trial panel, by the Market Cross, will be made of local Alston stone laid in two different ways, to test the strength and durability of the two options.

Work is expected to start in March and will take a minimum of six weeks to complete.

The authority has committed to designing and paying for a phase one scheme, which will see improvements to a section of Front Street, next to the Market Cross.

Funding is being sought for phase two work, which incorporates the areas of Front Street below and above the Market Cross.

Cumbria county councillor for Alston, Claire Driver said: “This will mark an exciting step forward in the project.

“The trial panel will give the project team the detailed information needed and residents a chance to see what local Alston stone looks like on Front Street.”