FOR more than a year they have plagued a Hampshire street, driving frustrated residents round the bend.

But after relentless campaigning by neighbours, their pothole-riddled road is set for a long-awaited makeover.

To the relief of residents in Bellemoor Road, Shirley, action is finally set to get under way within the next few months.

With more than 60 potholes along a stretch of just 160 metres, the road has been a source of grief for the past 12 months.

Residents had united to get the problem solved, complaining to local councillors to demand action from Balfour Beatty, the council’s highways company.

And last week their hard work and determination finally paid off, with residents receiving leaflets through their doors from Southampton City Council’s Labour Party, finally confirming that work will start in the autumn.

It comes just a month after residents in Coxford Road, Lordshill, won their battle to get potholes filled in after the Daily Echo intervened.

Residents in Bellemoor Road are hoping work will get under way soon, but Balfour Beatty has not yet revealed a date for it to start.

Chris Noyce, a teacher living on the road, said: “With the schools and the fact that it’s a busy road for cars, motorcyclists and cyclists, the road has become increasingly dangerous for people.

“I’m pleased that they are doing the whole road rather than just filling in a few gaps like they have in the past.”

Retired David Spanner added: “It’s been so bad that you can see the gravel which was laid underneath the tarmac. It’s all because this road did not have gritters when the frost was really bad last year and now we’ve got huge craters in the road which have deteriorated.

“It’s been too long and we’re lucky there haven’t been any real incidents along the road. It’s about time something was done.”

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, the city council’s Cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Based on feedback from residents, our council has allocated an additional £1.3m of funding per year to supplement the existing highways maintenance programme.

“This year, a number of resurfacing schemes in the city have been identified for spending against this additional sum of money and as a result Bellemoor Road is one of seven roads that will be resurfaced by March 2015.”