A pothole has burst my tyre - what now and how do I claim?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. A pothole has burst my tyre - what now and how do I claim? 1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleOlimpia ZagnatEast Midlands InvestigationsBBCA investigation has revealed only a fraction of pothole claims across the UK get paid outSo you've hit a pothole and blown a tyre - what now? This despairing question has been echoed by many a motorist - often accompanied by stories of drivers having as much difficulty navigating claims as they did steering around the crater-filled surfaces in the first place.

Now a investigation has revealed three in four claims for pothole compensation are being turned down. So how can you claim, and what are the challenges in doing so? How do potholes form?

The Details

Some potholes are deep enough to bathe in A pothole is a depression in a road surface - often caused by ground water or wear and tear. When water gets into cracks in the road, it leads to potholes forming, especially when it freezes and expands. According to the RAC motoring organisation, there are currently more than one million potholes across the UK.

However, the number will vary depending on the season. It estimates that, on average, there are about six potholes per mile on council-controlled roads in England and Wales. Meanwhile, the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) - the industry body that oversees road surfacing - warned in March that the cost of fixing all the potholes on local roads in England and Wales would be an estimated £18.

People living in Netherfield are fed-up with the state of their roadsTake a drive into the town of Netherfield in Nottinghamshire, and you'll soon realise why signs like the below exist. Resident Reg Patterson said the bumpy roads had become "part of the local environment". "It's not very good," the 68-year-old added.

What Experts Say

"There have been some humorous signs around the local area, which are quite entertaining I think. "In the last few weeks there has been a few temporary repairs I'd say. I think, generally, they're not very good at all.

"Signs such as this in Victoria Road in Netherfield are indicative of the mood among residentsAnother tongue-in-cheek sign in the area warns drivers of "craters"Fellow Netherfield neighbour Georgina Swann described the state of the roads as an "absolute nightmare". "There's a Facebook group that's dedicated to potholes around the area," the 57-year-old added. "The council needs to do more.

It's affecting people's cars. "Last time there was a local election, one of the big things was potholes. " In March, councillors in Nottinghamshire were filmed arguing in front of pothole protestersSwann's frustration has been echoed by other pothole protesters in Nottinghamshire when they gathered outside County Hall earlier this year.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.