English Heritage calls for rethink on "too perfect" Dunster paving stones

English Heritage is calling for a rethink on the new pavement being laid in a historic Somerset village.

In the medieval village of Dunster the cobbled walkways can be a hazardous, and after many trips and falls the decision was made to repave one side of West Street with flat stone slabs.

But some locals say the new stones are too perfect for the quirky character of their village. They were expecting something more rustic, and want it changed.

Now English Heritage is criticising the work too, saying it harms Dunster's historic qualities and calling for a more sensitive approach to be adopted.

The locals were expecting the new pavement to look like the one on the High Street, repaved a few years ago and also criticised at the time. The slabs there are a darker colour and have a bit more texture to them. However, these are imported stone and the County Council decided to choose something more local this time; Somerset Blue Lias.

They are going to look into whether it'll be possible to speed up the ageing process so the stone looks more weathered, but the priority is to finish the work without delay before Easter, when more tourists will begin to arrive.