WORK is gathering pace on the replacement of controversial asphalt patches with new stone flags in York's Stonegate.

The work has been speeded up by City of York Council after a storm of protest about dozens of damaged flags being taken up in the famous street last month and replaced by a temporary patchwork of black asphalt.

One trader claimed the street looked more like Asphaltgate than Stonegate, York Civic Trust chief executive David Fraser branded the work ‘dreadful’ and ‘visually jarring' and an online petition was launched, calling on the council to remove the asphalt and ‘give us back our history.'

New stone paving for Stonegate has now been sourced, which is being installed by workmen at a total cost of between £30,000 and £50,000.