AROUND 20 tonnes of soil has been cleared from outside a West Devon pub by South West Highways after an article in the Times.

Lisa Davies, landlady of the Prewley Moor Arms at Sourton Down, contacted the Times after a truck marked 'Highway Maintenance' dumped around 20 tonnes of soil at the end of the pub car park, near the entrance to the main pub building on March 12. 

Miss Davies said she had been initially told that it could take up to ten days for Devon County Council to inspect the incident. After the incident was reported in the Times, the county council and South West Highways were swift to act.

A representative for Devon County Council said: 'Upon reading the article in the Times and being made fully aware of the incident, we had discussions with our contractor, South West Highways locally and the issue was quickly investigated and rectified.

'South West Highways acknowledged that they had deposited the soil but that it was a genuine mistake on their part. 

'South West Highways then made arrangements with the landlady of

the Prewley Moor Arms to remove the soil at their expense.'

Trevor Cook, South West Highways customer liason officer, said: 'South West Highways would like to offer our deepest apologies to everyone at the Prewley Moor Arms for the inconvenience caused by the incident.

'By means of apology, as well as clearing the soil we have worked with Miss Davies and put fresh gravel over the patch of land, which is now to be used as an additional beer garden for the busy Easter period and summer months ahead.'

Miss Davies said: 'The work that has been carried out is really good, the gravel looks great and it is a fantastic job. 

'We had all the bigwigs from South West Highways down, including the liaison officer and manager. It was a great response from them once they were aware of the problem, and it is now looking great out there.'