Biker's birthday party for damaged manhole cover

A motorcyclist has thrown a party to mark the first 'birthday' of a damaged manhole cover.

David Morris reported the cover in Wardington to Oxfordshire County Council in February 2024, and was told it would be fixed by May of that year.

A year on, Mr Morris threw a celebration - complete with a birthday cake - at the site to mark the occasion.

The council said it had passed the "issue" onto "the relevant team for investigation".

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford Mr Morris explained that he had reported the damage through the authority's Fix My Street website multiple times.

"All that's happened since is the hole has got bigger," he said.

Mr Morris said he had repeatedly reported the damage

Responding to the council statement, he said it would "probably be investigated and left without a fuss being made."

As part of the anniversary, Mr Morris sang happy birthday to the damaged cover, and presented it with a birthday cake.

"I would say it cracked a smile, but there's enough cracks in it as it is, so another one wouldn't be too good," he said.

Adding that he got got a few strange looks: "One chap on a motorbike asked if I'd broken down."