23rd January 2007 - IN TOP GEAR TO MEET TARMAC CHALLENGE

Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, rose to the challenge to resurface a road in just 24 hours with just a little help from Tarmac National Contracting, in a show to be screened this Sunday (28 January) on BBC Two.

The BBC first approached Warwickshire County Council about filming a resurfacing job for a special Top Gear programme. The local authority suggested the 1.7km Grafton Lane in Bidford on Avon, and asked Carillion, who sub-contract resurfacing work to Tarmac, for help.

Nick Angelou, Tarmac's National Contracting general manager said: "The Grafton Lane work was already part of this year's programme. It would normally have been completed over four or five days, however as the BBC agreed to fund the overtime costs incurred, Tarmac were more than happy to help."

Senior contracts manager for Tarmac, Richard Beal added: "Tarmac laid on a night shift, kept the asphalt plants running around the clock and provided night transport to prove it could be done.

"All our staff worked very hard and put in a great deal of effort, including those behind the scenes. The Top Gear presenters were all on top form and kept us entertained into the early hours."