A DANGEROUS pothole which a councillor feared could kill a cyclist if they rode into it has been filled in by the county council.

The Oxford Mail reported yesterday that West Oxfordshire district councillor for Hanborough and Freeland Merilyn Davies had called in campaigner Mark Morrell, known as Mr Pothole, in an attempt to highlight the scourge of holes in rural areas.

But by Friday afternoon the crater – which was 1.4m wide and 14cm deep – had been filled by the county council’s contractor.

The county council also saw that two potholes in Botley Road, Oxford, were filled in after they began to cause problems for road users.

Ms Davies said: "I’m extremely grateful for Mr Pothole’s intervention to fix this dangerous pothole. But it’s time we acknowledged the system is broken.

"We need an innovative new approach, one which sees our roads fixed, and we need it now. Enough is enough."

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: “Like councils all over the country we are continuing to work hard to repair the roads after a difficult winter and spring.

"We understand people’s frustration and appreciate their patience."