A section of the B3254 road between St Keyne and Duloe is expected to be closed for a period of more than two months while repairs costing £55,000 are carried out on a serious landslip.

Part of the road fell away during the extreme weather conditions in the winter. Although the road surface was still in place, the edges had crumbled down into a quarry – a drop of about 30ft – leaving a dangerous situation.

Cornwall Council has applied for a prohibition of through traffic order, which will close the road for seven days a week with no emergency access, until the repairs are finished.

The chairman of St Keyne Parish Council, Loveday Carlyon, said: 'Unfortunately, because the lane is narrow and there will be a lot of equipment involved we realise it will be impossible for a section of the road to stay open.

'A main concern is the Western Greyhound bus service 573 through the village. A number of people in St Keyne have no other means of getting to work, but we have been assured that the service will run and be re-routed.'

Cornwall Council says the works will consist of the construction of a stone-faced reinforced concrete parapet on a concrete foundation above bedrock.

The road will be closed at the end of St Keyne village by the church, down the hill as far as Walles Bridge. Diversions will be in place.

The road closure order is expected to be in place until September 12.