Roads in the Ramsey area which have been damaged by “extreme” weather conditions are being given high priority in a repair scheme being carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Three out of 11 Cambridgeshire roads earmarked for improvements in the £6.25 million initiative are in Ramsey and a fourth is in nearby Farcet.

Work on the B1040 Herne Road is set to start next month, the second road to be repaired under the scheme, followed by the B1095 Milk and Water Drove, Farcet, in April, the B1096 Benwick Road in May and the B1040 St Mary’s Road in June.

Money from a Department for Transport fund for roads damaged by extreme weather conditions - including drought which has hit local roads - brought in £3.5 million for the county council and Peterborough City Council and the two authorities put in extra cash, taking the total to £6.25 million, which will repair 11 roads in Cambridgeshire and 10 in Peterborough.

The scheme was supposed to have started in January but the condition of the first road to be repaired, at Littleport, was worse than expected, causing delays.

Councillor Mathew Shuter, chairman of the county highways and community infrastructure committee, said: “We are repairing roads which are affected by extreme weather conditions due to the fenland soils beneath them, so the conditions are very difficult to account for in the design.

“We want to provide a long-term approach to the maintenance of these roads to prevent the need for repeated repairs and extra disruption, so we want to get this right.”

Most of the work, which is expected to be complete by July, involves major reconstruction of the roads down to foundation levels, together with maintenance of vegetation, drains, signs and road markings.

The extensive nature of the repairs means that the roads will be fully closed during the work and diversions will be set up.

The county council said that it and contractor Skanska were working together to minimise disruption to residents and road users and that diversions will be put in place.

Work will be carried out during the day and local access will be maintained where possible.

More information will be published at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/droughtroads.