MOTORISTS in the Crediton area have been reporting more potholes than at this time last year.

Devon County County has recorded more potholes so far this month than in the whole of January 2022.

The council has blamed the increase in the numbers of potholes on the amount of rain and the freezing temperatures.

A number of cars were recently damaged in Crediton by a large pothole at the top of Jockey Hill in Crediton, which has now been filled in.

The pothole became so bad that someone filled it with a number of car wheel trims and placed a football on top, making it more visible and giving motorists more chance to avoid it.

A number of people took to Facebook to say that they have also hit the pothole and many had sustained damage to their vehicles.

Phil Mark, Manager of ATS Euromaster in Crediton said: “We have had between six and 10 motorists in with damage to their vehicles because of potholes.

“There have been up to about 15 to 20 motorists with pothole damage to their tyres, many of these have sustained damage to both front and rear tyres and some have also sustained damage to coils and springs.”

Motorists driving through the main street in Bow are having to negotiate a number of large potholes, some of which have recently been filled by Devon County Council.

Paul Edworthy, a Parish Councillor and local business owner of Edworthy Media, said: The potholes have been an issue in the village for quite a few months.

“I have had a number of customers come into my office mentioning the terrible state of the roads.

“A couple travelling to Holsworthy hit one with their front and rear wheels and punctured both tyres, requiring a recovery company to get them home.

“It has been a struggle for cyclists, motorcyclists, parents with pushchairs, pedestrians crossing the road as well as cars and heavy goods vehicles.

After posting a TikTok video from my TikTok account: @1stclasstiktoks I managed to get four of the worst potholes repaired.

“I appreciate Devon County Council is short on funding, and we appreciate the work they have done to make it safer.

“I only hope they will repair the whole of the road in April, when they receive this year’s budget.

Mid Devon District Council cabinet member Stuart Penny has been reporting potholes to Devon County Council regularly for the last four years.

He said: Although after recently raising awareness in Bow, a number of the deeper potholes were filled, there remains a very rough and damaged road surface which is unlikely to improve until the whole road is resurfaced.

“The problem is not unique to Bow as anyone who uses the roads in Mid Devon knows only too well and I am regularly receiving communication from concerned residents over the state of the roads.

“I will continue to highlight the worst areas and bring those to the attention of Devon County Council and hopefully, one pothole at a time, we can make it better.”

To report a pothole visit: www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole/ .

Alternatively, telephone Devon Highways on 0345 1551004.

If you sustain damage to your vehicle, you may be able to claim for the repair. A form is available at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/maintaining-roads/safety/highways-insurance-claims/

If you have any pothole pictures please sent them to: [email protected] .

Nora Parminter