DUNSTER controversial cobbles saga is set to enter its final stage with West Street's Blue Lias paving due to be ripped up and replaced next week.

The historic village made national newspapers when residents fought to replace the Blue Lias paving installed by Somerset County Council, which was described as an 'act of vandalism'.

Having installed the Blue Lias paving in January 2015 as part of a wider £400k scheme, public pressure forced the council into a U-turn which will see the Blue Lias ripped up and replaced with Brecon Grey Stone, as in the High Street.

There will be two-way traffic signals in West Street from Monday, September 19 through until Friday, November 25 while the work is carried out.

A spokesman for Exmoor National Park said: "Work to replace the paving laid in West Street, Dunster last year is planned to start next week; the paving that is lifted will be recycled by the contractor.

"The replacement paving will be the same type as that laid along the High Street pavement some years ago which has blended well into the historic setting of Dunster.

"The cost of the work, around £55,000, will be met by Somerset County Council with support from Dunster Parish Council and the Dunster Working Group, of which Exmoor National Park Authority is a member."

Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said he was pleased to see the work finally going ahead.

"£55,000 is a terrifying amount at the moment but if only the people in charge had looked more closely at what the plan was we should not be in this position. The people in control showed they are clearly not up to the job.

"Dunster is an exemplary medieval village and should be preserved, I am just sorry it has taken this long to restore this wonderful village to its full glory."

Jeni Fender, chairman of Dunster Tourism Forum and owner of the Made in Dunster shop on West Street said:

"I am pleased it is going to be put right. I do think this is the best time for the work to go ahead, between the busy summer season but before Dunster by Candlelight.

"Last year we ran a campaign to get the Blue Lias replaced, a number of shops had posters in the window and a questionnaire, and in my workshop people would often complain about what had been put down.

"We did not want people who come to visit Dunster to be drawn into a campaign but we felt it had to be done to draw attention to the issue.

"I run the only open business on the road that will be directly affected, but I am 100 per cent behind the plan to take it up and put in something more sympathetic to the rest of the village."