Sir - I read with interest, and annoyance the article on the front page last week on the subject of the number of pothole payouts increasing.

I had a personal involvement with just such a scenario in November 2005 when my vehicle sustained a damaged wheel due to unavoidably hitting a deep pothole. The resulting damage cost me over £120 to repair.

I naturally felt that I had a legitimate reason to reclaim my costs from the county council. The following day I completed a highways claim form, provided photographic evidence, receipts, measurements and locations of the incident to the council highways authority.

However, after much correspondence, I was to be disappointed in my expectations of the county council as they decided to hide behind a piece of legislation, Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, which basically states that if the highways authority is unaware of a pothole and can demonstrate that they have not acted negligently, they cannot be held responsible.

Despite support from my Member of Parliament the county council were resolute in their refusal to accept any liability.

I would encourage anyone who spots or has a near miss with a pothole to report it to the county council to make them aware, so that anyone suffering damage from the numerous potholes now appearing around the regions roads, can make a successful claim.

Stuart Bird, Didcot