'Pipe failure' leaves Norfolk drivers facing £4k repair bills

The incident coated dozens of cars and roads with a 'tar'-like substance on Tuesday in the Billingford, North Elmham and Dereham areas. 

Tar on the road at Mill Road in Foxley. (Image: Peter Rivett)

A lorry from Velocity UK Ltd, a specialist road repair company, was responsible for the spill and the company has since apologised to affected drivers. 

Investigations are ongoing into what happened, but the incident may have been caused by a "unique pipe failure" which spilled a "water-based bitumen emulsion". 

Peter Rivett, 74, who was travelling in North Elmham toward Dereham at around 10am, was one of the drivers affected. 

One of the cars splattered in the tar parked in Billingford. (Image: Denise Bradley)

"I was driving down the road and then the next minute it was a blackout and my screen was covered in sticky tar," he said. 

"I then drove to a car wash in Dereham and several other cars pulled up to the car wash also coated in the tar." 

Mr Rivett believes around 80 cars were affected, something Velocity disputes, and described what happened as "awful". 

The could cost up to £4,000 to clean cars covered in the substance (Image: Facebook/Lorna Wright)

In a statement on Thursday, a spokesman for Velocity UK Ltd said: "Our immediate priority is to work with those affected to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, including putting appropriate arrangements in place for vehicles requiring cleaning or further attention. 

"We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused." 

The company has said it will be contacting affected motorists directly and will assess each case, including any reasonable costs incurred due to the spill.

Teams have also been inspecting and cleaning affected roads and surrounding areas, including verges and vegetation. 

The spilled tar on a road through Billingford. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Mr Rivett said that, due to being unable to wash the substance off, he is now having to go to his insurance and the help of a local garage to repair the damage to his paintwork. 

A spokesman for New Image garage in Norwich said: “With this sort of damage, if caught early enough, you could rectify it with a full chemical strip and decontamination treatment with a machine polish that could cost around £700 plus VAT.  

“If the substance had eaten the topcoat of the paintwork, then it could result in a full respray that may cost up to £4,000.”  

Norse Highways, Norfolk County Council and Velocity UK Ltd are working together to resolve the situation and to understand what caused the incident. 

A spokesman for Norse Highways added: "Where private property, including gardens, has been affected, this will be assessed accordingly."