The next steps to repair a damaged road in a village have been revealed after it emerged that the route will be closed until the summer.

The Street in Aldham, near Hadleigh, has been shut since November after the side of the road gave way.

Suffolk Highways have been working on a way to get the road reopened.

Following investigations works in the area, a solution to fix the issue has been proposed. 

A spokesman for Suffolk Highways said: "To allow The Street in Aldham to be reopened, a retaining structure will be installed to support the brook and embankment.

"The team will obtain the necessary approvals and create a work programme with the agreed solution.

"Whilst we haven’t yet confirmed a start date for the repair works, we are working towards an on-site start in June with an expected six-week construction programme.

"It is hoped that these works can be completed, and the road reopened by the end of July 2024.

"We thank the community for their patience and apologise for the ongoing inconvenience this is causing residents of Aldham and Elmsett."

The long running roadworks was one of the reasons Elmsett Village Stores shut down on Saturday. 

Ipswich Star: Elmsett Village Stores closed down last weekElmsett Village Stores closed down last week (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A statement posted in the store window said a number of issues had led to the decision, including the closure of the road.

Speaking in January, co-owner of the shop Sasha Lawrence revealed the shop's revenue had seen a dramatic drop following the sudden closure of The Street in Aldham.  

"It is heartbreaking," said Mrs Lawrence.

"There is no end in sight. What gets me is that during Covid we were the essential service. We did not get any government support. We got no help."