Sawbridgeworth mum's car suffers two punctures after hitting pothole on way back from cinema with children
A furious mum is planning to claim compensation from highways chiefs after her car crashed down a pothole, puncturing two of its tyres.
Josephine Quinton is one of scores of drivers in Sawbridgeworth whose cars have suffered flat tyres after running over potholes in the past few days.
The mum-of-four was on her way back with her children from the cinema in Harlow on Sunday evening when on realising Station Road was closed she diverted through Brook Road to return to her home in Sawbridgeworth.
But as she drove over a puddle her Mercedes V class hit the pothole and both her nearside tyres immediately began deflating.
“I made it to White Lion [pub, London Road] before I really couldn’t drive any further as the rims were scraping on road,” said Josephine, who added she watched as the computer in her car showed the tyres deflating from 240kpa to five in 200 yards.
She has since discovered that the pothole was reported to Hertfordshire Highways by a resident of Brook Road on January 1 and another was reported by Sawbridgeworth Mayor Cllr Greg Rattey just yards from the one Josephne went down.
Josephine was doubly frustrated as she had just had all four tyres replaced and this time had opted for budget tyres to replace the damaged ones - but still at a cost of £250.
Residents have inundated Facebook with reports of vehicles suffering punctures from potholes throughout the area, including Sheering Lower Road and London Road, near the Beefeater pub.
Hertfordshire County councillor Eric Buckmaster replied to Josephine on Facebook saying the increase in potholes was due to the weather and warned that unless it was reported drivers were unlikely to get compensation.
But Josephine is hoping as the one her car hit was reported she will be compensated.