'Monster pothole' more than 30cm deep damages multiple cars on the A343 just south of Highclere

Several people were forced to abandon their cars yesterday after a particularly nasty pothole claimed the lives of multiple tyres.

The pothole, located just south of The Pheasant pub on the A343 near Highclere, was seven metres long, one metre wide and 32 centimetres deep at its deepest point.

Multiple automobile victims of the pothole were seen parked in The Pheasant car park this morning (Wednesday) with burst tyres and absent wheels.

Woolton Hill resident John Bonas waited for several hours waiting to be picked up by the roadside last night after the pothole burst one of his tyres on his way home from work at around 5.50pm.

He was one of at least seven who had their cars damaged last night.

He said: “I was probably the lucky one because it didn’t damage my wheel. I’ve never seen a pothole like it.”

Mr Bonas also referred to the road surface pit as a “monster pothole”.

He called the police soon after he realised what had happened because many of the people who had their cars damaged were trying to get photos of the pothole.

He said: “There were people obviously trying to get pictures of the pothole, but in doing that they were putting themselves in the complete pitch black with cars going either way. It was so dangerous.”

Mr Bonas had to leave his car in The Pheasant car park overnight before he was able to take it to a garage to get a new tyre fitted this morning.

The pothole was hastily repaired overnight to prevent any similar damage from happening.

Was your car damaged by this pothole? If so please contact cameron.blackshaw@newburynews.co.uk