A furious motorist has slammed the local council for failing to repair a huge pothole on a country road - having roped his six-foot son into a photoshoot to prove just how sizeable the crater is.
Aron Cross, 52, photographed son Lewis, 27, inside the hole in Wycoller, near Pendle, showing his head and shoulders only just visible above the ground's surface.
Aron says he reported the pothole to Lancashire County Council's highways department a year ago, but council chiefs argue the road is a 'country track bordered by a ditch which people who drive in rural areas will be familiar with'.
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Aron has responded by insisting the route is an adopted road that is only wide enough for a single vehicle, saying he believes a child 'could easily be killed' if they walked along the track and didn't spot the hazard.
He said: "I think it's important to understand that the county council claim to have inspected this adopted highway, only a couple of weeks ago.
"Obviously, this brings the competence and validity of the inspection in to question and if they failed to see that hole, it is little wonder they missed everything else.
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"The hole was reported to the council a year ago and many times since. It is disgraceful.
"The authority has claimed this adopted highway is a rural track which misleads the public.
"The duty of care and responsibility remains the same regardless of whatever you decide to call an adopted highway."
Aron, who runs a glamping business near the road, claims the uneven surface and a protruding tree on the road has damaged his and his partner's car.
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He has even threatened to take the authority to court over the ongoing issue.
Aron added: "The road itself is only wide enough for the vehicle that is on it.
"If someone is walking with a pushchair, you've got no chance because you won't see the hole.
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"A child could easily be killed if they fall down it, I am sure.
"It is a big hole. My son is about six foot tall. He had to stand on a rock so he could see above the hole.
"They have been told about this for a year and they have done nothing about it.
"They still haven't put any physical barriers around it, which I find shocking."
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A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "This is a country track bordered by a ditch which people who drive in rural areas will be familiar with.
"We maintain it to a safe level, and couldn't find any large holes at the side when it was inspected recently.
"We will ask Mr Cross for the precise location where the photo was taken so that we can carry out further checks and take action if needed."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS