UK Heatwave: Road in Cannock turns to molten tar and sticks to tyres and flip flops
Shocking footage shows tyres coated in sticky tarmac from a residential road in Cannock, Staffs. The town sizzled as temperatures soared to more than 30C (86F) over the weekend.
Flip flips became 'glued' to road
One woman was almost hit by a car when her flip flops became glued to the sizzling highway.
Gorsemoor Road in Cannock in Staffordshire is melting down in the heatwave.
The highways authority has temporarily closed the road, and has been out on Saturday to treat it .
Fuming residents living in Gorsemoor Road say the molten road surfaces has caused costly damage to their cars and driveways.
Range Rover coated in 'molten tarmac'
The problem was so bad, the council's highways department closed the road completely on Friday and Saturday to carry out repairs.
Roger Wain standing near tar that has melted in heatwave on Gorsemoor Road in Cannock.
Gorsemoor Road in Cannoc in Staffordshire is melting down in the heatwave. The highways authority has temporarily closed the road, and has been out on Saturday to treat it .
Postman Roger Wain, 49, said a neighbour's Range Rover had been coated in molten tarmac as the weather reached highs of 31C (87.8F).
Sizzling road suck to tyres
The dad-of-one said: "It's obviously changed the road surface and the look and that's partly down to the weather. "It's ripped parts of the road up.
They resurfaced it four or five weeks ago, whether it wasn't done properly or whether it was a combination of the heat and a shoddy job. "I've been lucky and kept out the way but a few people have had it stick to their tyres.
Temperature reached 31C
"One of the neighbours said a resident a few doors down came back with a Range Rover and it all stuck to the tyres and well they pulled up all the tarmac had gone all over their drive and ruined the wheels and driveway.
Mark Edwards holding piece of tar that has melted in heatwave on Gorsemoor Road in Cannock. Gorsemoor Road in Cannoc in Staffordshire is melting down in the heatwave. The highways authority has temporarily closed the road, and has been out on Saturday to treat it .
"It's been around 30 degrees the past few days, so it sort of crescendoed at about 31C on Saturday."
Neighbour Marc Edwards, 44, said: "When you drive on the road you're literally ripping up great big chunks of tar and when you put the car onto the drive, it's bringing all the tar onto the drives and it's just spreading all over them.
GBP300 to repair tar-coated tyres
"It's wrecking loads of people's drives all up and down the street, and it's hardening on the tyres overnight. We thought pot holes were bad but this is ridiculous." One driver has been quoted GBP300 to repair her tyres, which are coated in tarmac and stones.
Emergency stop after flip flop stuck to road
MP Josh Newbury, who represents Cannock Chase, said: "A lady was crossing the street and her flip flop got stuck in the tar and it almost came off.
"It caused her to trip. A car had to do an emergency stop to not hit her. "It just shows it's not just motorists at risk, it's also pedestrians."
Mark Edwards holding piece of tar that has melted in heatwave on Gorsemoor Road in Cannock. Gorsemoor Road in Cannoc in Staffordshire is melting down in the heatwave.
The highways authority has temporarily closed the road, and has been out on Saturday to treat it .
Shaun Dennis only uses his car early in the morning or late at night when the roads will be their coolest. He said: "Motorways don't melt, roads in Spain don't melt, certain roads that you drive on in this temperature aren't melting. "So there's obviously something fundamental about the work that's been done here."
Peter Mason, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, said: "We are aware of the current condition of Gorsemoor Road in Cannock and have been working closely with our contractors to address the issue as a priority.
Soaring temperatures
"Over the weekend, temperatures in Staffordshire are reaching over 30?C, significantly increasing the risk of surface melting on newly laid roads."
Gritters normally used to melt icy roads in the winter have been deployed around the county to cool the road surfaces.
The vehicles spread granite dust onto the tarmac which helps absorb the softened bitumen and improves grip for motorists.