Botched road resurfacing in which asphalt was slopped over historic cobblestones has been labelled “a catastrophic waste of taxpayers’ money”.

Contractor Colas carried out work in Ladysmith Road, Kimberley Road and Folly Avenue on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council last month.

But after waiting ten years for the repairs, James Toms, of Ladysmith Road, said he was “shocked” at the quality of the work, which was supposed to take place last year but was postponed.

The work started on July 1, the hottest day of the year.

Mr Toms said: “After the first night they allowed cars to enter the road when it was still soft, causing issues with the surface.

"The work was completed in two days and we could not believe that this was the finished article.

“The road is already crumpling. There are holes and asphalt that has not cured because of the heat, there are dips and areas that have been missed as well as differing levels around man holes.

"The area is part of the St Albans conservation area and we feel no one took this into account when the work was carried out.”

Christopher Dey, who also lives in Ladysmith Road, said the works had been a “complete disaster”.

The 36-year-old said: “The road surface is breaking up already. It was laid on the hottest day of the year and The surface hasn’t hardened correctly.

"When I cleaned my motorcycle last week, the stand made two holes in the asphalt which it shouldn’t do.

“The holes are over an inch deep.

“The conservation-grade cobble stones have been asphalted over in places. In other places the tar has been slopped over them.

“The contrast to Normandy, which was resurfaced a couple of years ago, is stark.

“The work is a catastrophic waste of taxpayers money as it will need to be stripped off and completely relaid in my opinion.”

Hertfordshire County Council spokesman Andrew Dawson apologised to residents and added: "We will ask the contractor to put things right at their own expense.”