IN 2008 we launched a campaign called ROAR.

Repair Our Awful Roads was what we in the business call a ‘Ronseal’ initiative - it attempts to do exactly what it says on the tin.

The Review had highlighted a number of local cases including that of Sheila Harrison who got her foot stuck in a pothole in Lye Lane, Bricket Wood.

She remained trapped for half an hour describing herself as a ‘sitting duck’.

It was fortunate for Mrs Harrison that a considerate driver saw her, pulled over and managed to free her foot.

Mrs Harrison said at the time: “There was no one in the lane at the time and I thought that it was going to be the end of me because I was right next to a bend and lorries come along so fast.”

Before this incident in May 2008 there had been 37 reports of damage to cars in Lye Lane in just seven months.

Hertfordshire County Council insisted that after each incident had been reported a contractor was dispatched and the offending pot hole was repaired.

However, it was only after we reported on this incident that Hertfordshire Highways announced resurfacing work would take place.

It does seem that the authority operates a system where a pot hole has to be reported before action is taken.

Following the recent snowfall our roads have deteriorated to such an extent that we are receiving dozens of potholes reports a week.

So what is Herts Highways doing about it?

That I do not know, but if it is still waiting for people to report such issues then I believe it should be a little bit more proactive.

It says it has contractors pounding the streets in search of dangerous holes but immediate action should be taken when one is found.

Next time someone gets their foot stuck like Mrs Harrison they might not be so lucky.

The county council needs to deal with this issue quickly and effectively before such a nightmare becomes a reality.