FURIOUS residents have blasted Devon County Council for failing in their duty of care to resurface a lane which, they say, is plastered with potholes.

Nick Kendall, from South Brent, declared the lane used by residents is now almost impassable.

Residents say the lane from Well Oak to Lutton has dramatically deteriorated over the past 18 months.

Mr Kendall said: 'There is something of a pothole epidemic in the UK, but in South Brent we have a lane so badly affected that it is almost impassable without risk of damage to vehicles.

'It has been going on for around 18 months to two years – it used to be a case of reporting various potholes, but it has dramatically deteriorated.

'I have been in contact with Devon Highways who promised, verbally, that the road would be fully resurfaced in the 2014-2015 financial year.'

Mr Kendall said the lane has potholes covering three parts of the lane which is in such a poor state that the children who walk along it are at real risk.'

He added: 'The road is a substantial hazard, especially with the excess gravel thrown into the road, it poses a real threat for drivers and pedestrians using the lane. It can be really hard to brake.'

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette