MOTORISTS in Royston have been damning the condition of the town’s roads this week with potholes causing damage to cars.

Potholes on Mill Road, Old North Road and Morton Street have been reported to The Crow and one driver has told how he lost a hubcap after driving over one.

The driver, who didn’t want to be named but lives in Garden Walk, said: “I wasn’t speeding or anything, but the hole was in such an awkward position I couldn’t do anything about it.

“I tried to swerve and avoid it, but because it was quite dark I only saw it late. It was only when I got home I realised it had caused my hubcap to come off.

“I know they have only just started to appear, but I haven’t seen anyone from the council trying to fill them in, or do anything about it.”

Whaddon resident Terry Hutt told of his disbelief at the size of a pothole he encountered on Old North Road.

“The cars were moving very slowly, and I noticed those ahead of me were driving in an odd direction. When I got closer I realised they were swerving to avoid this giant hole,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe the size of it. Because it was dark and full of water it was difficult to see too, and could do some serious damage to cars.

“If you look at it to see what it is, you can’t be concentrating on driving properly.”

One of the potholes in Old North Road has now been filled in by Hertfordshire Highways, but they have urged anyone who spots potentially dangerous holes to let them know.

A Herts Highways statement said: “Damage to the roads during wintry weather is caused by rain water and thawing snow seeping into small cracks in the road. As temperatures dip, the water freezes and expands, enlarging the cracks. This causes potholes to appear, overnight in some cases, even in roads that otherwise appear sound.

“If a pothole or any other fault has appeared in your road due to the wintry weather, please visit our website www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults, where you can report the fault using a convenient online form and map. Alternatively, you can call us on 0300 123 4047.”

If you’d like to find out more about how potholes are repaired, a Herts Highways webcast is available at http://www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/roadstrans/highways/potholevid.