DRIVERS are demanding action after hundreds of pounds of damage has been caused by a pothole over the past week.

The six inch deep crater in London Road, near the M11 roundabout in Hastingwood, is thought to have claimed at least six victims since Monday.

Lee Heron, 35, damaged two of the wheels on his Mercedes when he drove over the hole on his way to see a friend on Tuesday.

“I heard a big thump and felt my steering pulling to one side,” he said. “I pulled into the petrol station nearby and saw I had a puncture.

“It had blown the front tyre and caused damage to the alloy. I had to call the AA out.”

While he was pulled over, he said he met a woman whose car had been damaged by the pothole the day before.

When he returned yesterday (Thursday), he witnessed Irene Martin’s Peugot being damaged in the same way.

“I drove straight over it,” said Mrs Martin, 53, of Granville Road, Epping. “It was right in my pathway and if I’d pulled out, I would’ve gone over the white lines in the middle of the road.

“The highways guys have painted their orange lines around it, so they’re aware it’s there. I do feel they should have filled it in.

“I burst my tyre and damaged the wheel and my children were in the car. It’s dangerous.

“I saw someone else do it, but he drove off again, so he didn’t burst his tyre.”

Mr Heron said he had seen three drivers hit the hole yesterday and had heard of two further cars being damaged by it on Monday.

“The council has a duty of care when it comes to the road,” he said.

“I rang (Essex County Council’s) highways and they said there’s a lack of resources, but road tax is going up.”

He plans to claim compensation from the council and said he could not afford to repair his car in the meantime.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “Essex Highways were made aware of the road defect and following an assessment, a temporary repair was put in place.

“Following this repair, the road defect has now had a permanent repair that will be completed today (Friday).

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to Highways users.”

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