A teacher who claims to have got more than 50 potholes fixed in the last year has described himself as Watford’s number one pothole hunter.

Dennis Wharton keeps detailed notes on all the potholes in his area – measuring their size, shape and location.

After reporting them directly to Hertfordshire County Council, he then monitors the progress of their repair.

Last year alone, Mr Wharton reported more than 50 of the troublesome craters, often returning to the site to see for himself whether repairs had been carried out.

He said: “Many people might think potholes are a minor annoyance but the damage they cause can cost thousands, not to mention the danger to cyclists and motorcyclists.”

As well as highways issues, Mr Wharton has been drawing attention to broken pavements, adding: “Plenty of people aren’t steady on their feet or just don’t look where they are going, so I always make sure to report any cracked paving or worn tarmac.”

Mr Wharton’s work does not stop there however, as he plans to beat his record in 2017.