A GRANDFATHER and former Blackbird Leys resident of 23 years has lambasted the 'dreadful' state of the estate's roads.

Brian Chadwick, 83, has demanded something be done about monster potholes along the bus routes, some of which appear to be more than six inches deep.

The retired Unipart fire officer lived there until 1982 but still counts Blackbird Leys as his 'second home', driving daily to the estate from Witney to visit friends.

He said: "The potholes really are dangerous, especially for cyclists. For anybody not familiar with the area at night it would wreck their suspension.

"The problem areas are on the bus route; I've already done a survey and mapped them all out. They go six to seven inches deep."

Some key 'problem areas' include Balfour Road, where some of the potholes are up to 2ft long, and Field Avenue, where there is a gaping hole by the bus stop.

Mr Chadwick said there were also severe fissures and holes in Pegasus Road and Knights Road which could be causing bus passengers discomfort.

He said: "The ones in question are not potholes anymore, they are sinkholes. They go to six or seven inches deep."

Fixing potholes on county roads is the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council, except for and A roads, which are covered by Highways England.

On its website the council states that potholes may need urgent attention if they are more than 1.5 inches deep, or five inches wide.

But Mr Chadwick said last year a large pothole he reported by the Balfour Road bus stop took 12 months to fix.

He added: "That was a good job. But half the repairs done aren't being done properly, just botched. I think they could fix it all in a week.

"To be quite truthful, I just think the council forgets about Blackbird Leys. These potholes just go on for months and months and months.

"People just put up with it and don't moan anymore because it's too much trouble. They would rather pay for the damage of the car."

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: "We carry out repairs to potholes all year round and any that are reported to us will be inspected.

"The best way to report problems to us is via Fix My Street. This means that the reports come directly to our team."

To report a pothole online to the county council through its Fix My Street service visit fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk or for an urgent issue call 0345 310 1111.