ONE of the steepest hills in England has reopened after being successful resurfaced.

The A39 at Porlock Hill is reportedly the steepest A road in England and has a gradient of one in four (25 per cent) in places.

Somerset County Council has improved the road by laying a new modern surface with a high skid resistance along the length of the hill.

Specialist equipment and techniques were employed to improve this stretch of the A39, including use of an integrated paver and all-terrain forklift with tracks.

Cllr David Fothergill, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for Highways, said: “Resurfacing a hill with a one in four gradient is a no ordinary project.

"It required specialist equipment as well as all the expertise and experience of our highways team.

“We’re fully committed to keeping our roads in the best possible condition – no matter how challenging this might be and I am delighted that the project is successfully completed.