AN INNOVATIVE system for repairing damaged roads is being used across Cheshire.

The process involves pulverising the existing road so the surface is ground up by the county council's purpose-built road recycling machine.

Owned by Stabilised Pavements, the machinery adds cement in measured quantities and the mixture is then compacted to form the new road base.

It hardens and strengthens in hours and a traditional black top surfacing course is laid on the new road base.

Executive member for highways and transportation, Cllr John Burke, said: 'This machinery saves time and money by using the existing material to form a new road base rather than exporting the old base to a landfill site while importing aggregate from a quarry for the new one.

'Advantages of using recycling methods rather than traditional forms of road maintenance include lower landfill costs, less imported material, fewer lorry trips and quicker construction time.

'This leads to cost savings, is better for the environment and. because the process is very quick to undertake, it enables traffic to access the road soon after completion.

'The process helps the county meet its long-term sustainability targets.'

At present the recycling initiative has been restricted to minor roads in rural areas across the county, but other applications are being considered.