Midlands driver has won £2,000 in compensation for damage caused to his car by potholes despite his local council warning that he faced losing thousands if he pursued his claim.

Hamilton Bland, from Coventry, who is a former BBC sports commentator, damaged his car in the winter of 2010 when his Mercedes vehicle hit potholes which damaged three of the wheels. He took his car to a garage who told him that the wheels could not be repaired and that it would cost £2,000 to replace them.

However Coventry Council refused to accept liability and lawyers representing the council sent letters to Mr Bland warning him that he would face a bill of £3,500 if he decided to pursue the claim through the courts and subsequently lost. However, he ignored the warnings and took the matter further, winning the case, possibly helped by 80 photographs that he took of the road surface that damaged his car.

Speaking after the case Mr Bland said that other motorists in a similar position may now feel able to take their claims further. He said: "The bottom line is the council underestimated the amount of money needed to repair the roads. The council didn't want me to win, but now the judge has approved the claim it opens the door for everyone else in similar situations."

New rules state that all holes which are less than 4cm deep or 15cm wide do not have to be filled in within 24 hours as was previously the case.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033867/Driver-Hamilton-Bland-sues-Coventry-council-2-000-potholes-damage-wheels.html