A MAJOR county road is now under the direct control of Herefordshire Council.

It has taken responsibility of the A40 from Ross-on-Wye to the Gloucestershire border from the Highways Agency and will now receive Department of Transport payouts for its upkeep.

Clive Hall, Herefordshire Council’s networks manager, said the authority was “best placed to manage and maintain this route to meet Herefordshire’s needs”.