A FUMING driver whose car failed its MoT after hitting a "massive" pothole has joined a chorus of angry Wyre Forest residents upset about the state of the roads.

Stuart Tighe, 34, of Lea Street, Kidderminster, drove over a pothole in St Mary's Ringway, Kidderminster, which dented his wheel and suspension joint and left him with a £120 bill.

He said: "The pothole was so big my car nearly disappeared to the centre of the earth. I bounced out of my seat and immediately thought I had hit someone."

He added: "Has anyone any suggestions who I can send my bill to? I have not seen any 6ft moles roaming the streets of Kidderminster, so I cannot send the bill to them.

"I have heard of crop circles. Maybe someone or something is forming pothole circles around our county."

He said that instead of carrying out "proper repairs" the Highways Agency was just filling in the holes with loose tar so the problem would resurface only days later.

At a Stourport Town Council meeting last week, councillors voiced similar concerns about the state of the roads in Stourport.

Conservative councillor John Holden said: "We are very badly done by in the north of the county. I really do think that as I proceed south in my car I get a smoother ride."

Town mayor Mike Salter said the roads were in an "appalling" state and he had received many complaints from angry residents.

Lee Shrimpton, spokesman for Worcestershire County Council, said £15 million had been allocated to carry out major repairs of residential roads.

He explained the money would address roads "in greatest need" and a list of those roads was currently being drawn up. He added the maintenance work was due to be carried out over the next 12 to 18 months.

He said: "It would not be the best use of money if we relaid a patch of road and then ripped it up a few weeks later."

Mr Shrimpton said the problem had been made worse by the recent heavy rains, which had been immediately followed by snap freezes.

He explained: "This caused a very fast deterioration of the road surface and this has been seen to be the case all over the county."

Mr Shrimpton added the repair work would stand the test of time and would free up revenue funds for repair work on roads like the Kidderminster Ringway.

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