Medieval lengthsman pilot in Nottinghamshire
The medieval role of lengthsman is to be revived in Nottinghamshire.
Under a pilot project a cluster of villages and towns would share a lengthsman - essentially an odd job man or woman for the community.
The role, which historically required someone to keep ditches and drains clear, would include tasks such as grass cutting and clearing snow.
Nottinghamshire County Council said if the pilot was successful up to 40 jobs could be created.
The pilot scheme has received £54,000 from the authority and will run from June until next April, with evaluation taking place in December.
The position dates back to the medieval era when parish councils employed men to maintain an area or length of road.
The post died out in the late 1880s when road maintenance became the responsibility of county councils.