Malmesbury teenager 'fishes' in potholes to raise awareness

Ben Thornbury shared images pretending to fish in a pothole on social media

A teenager has taken his campaign against potholes to new levels by pretending to fish in them.

Ben Thornbury wore the mask of local MP James Gray as he highlighted what he called a "plague of potholes" on Abbey Row in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Council has confirmed it will be investing £43m into fixing the county's roads.

Mr Gray said he shared people's concerns about potholes in the area.

Since Mr Thornbury's social media post showing him 'fishing' in the potholes, repair work to cover over the holes on Abbey Row has been completed by the council.

The 19-year-old student, who regularly protests about potholes, said his latest protest was inspired by a meme he saw on social media.

He said the reaction had been "brilliant", with many passing motorists honking in support and pedestrians thanking him for raising awareness.

Ben Thornbury said there is "a plague of potholes" in Malmesbury

"I'm not a driver at the moment, but I like to help people out if I can and try and make a bit of a difference," he said.

"I'm quite involved with social media and I see all the people complaining and it is a big issue that I see everyday.

"The problem is everywhere - it's not just in our town," he added.

'There is more to do'

In response to the protest, Mr Gray said: "I share constituents' concerns about potholes in Malmesbury, which I regularly bring to the attention of Wiltshire Council who are responsible for roads in our county.

"Last year we finally saw Malmesbury High Street resurfaced but there is more to do.

"The government are giving Wiltshire Council a minimum of nearly £82 million in additional funding for roads over the next decade and I will continue to push the Department for Transport for more.

"Anyone with a concern about a pothole is welcome to bring it to the attention of my office who will flag them with Wiltshire Council."

Wiltshire Council is responsible for maintaining roads in the county

A statement issued by Wiltshire councillor Caroline Thomas said there had been an increase in potholes across the country due to factors such as extreme temperature variations.

Members of the public have been urged to report potholes so repair work can be organised on a priority basis, as per the Highways Inspection Manual.

Ms Thomas' statement added: "We appreciate the concern around the number of potholes in Wiltshire and we are repairing roads as quickly as we can.

"While other councils around the country are cutting budgets, our robust financial position means we can invest much more than the government funding allows into the things we know are really important to people - filling potholes, resurfacing roads and emptying gullies to help prevent road flooding.

"This is all part of our business plan commitment to have vibrant, well-connected communities and to invest in our highways network."