Storm damage that ripped away a section of fragile coastal route on Shetland forced residents to abandon their vehicles up to half a mile from their homes.
Emergency repair work began yesterday on the sea road by the Ness of Sound on the south side of Lerwick.
A Hogmanay storm gouged great chunks out of a wall and road surface of the only access route to four homes and a farm.
“This is not uncommon for the time of year,” a council spokesman said.
The local authority confirmed that the repairs would be temporary in order to open up the road, but that more permanent repairs would follow.
Local resident Chris Johnson was first to encounter the damage and quickly warned his neighbours.
A section of road subsequently caved in, with part of the surface tumbling into the sea.
It rendered the properties inaccessible by road.
Alan McKay, 58, who runs an architectural business from his nearby, recently built home of Millgaet, (CORRECT) said: “Chris alerted us. He noticed the road had been eroded underneath. He felt the road was in danger and could collapse – and he was absolutely right.
“It is a bit of a headache for the council, I imagine, in the longer term. But they have repaired the road before. It’s a very old road and a pretty strong structure.
“Even though bits and pieces, with the incredibly strong winds we get, may break up now and again, as long as they can keep repairing it, then it should be fine. We’re not in a desperate situation, there’s a shop only 10 minutes’ walk away.”
Mr McKay has since managed to access a farm track in order to reach his home by car.
While the sea road was left strewn with stones, larger rocks washed up in the gales have been removed.