Glyn's Dudley potholes and stray horses misery

Black Country milkman Glyn Berrington is so fed up with dodging potholes and stray horses that he keeps a diary of woe as he weaves his way on his rounds.

Mr Berrington, who runs a Dairy Crest franchise in Brierley Hill, Pensnett and Kingswinford, sends almost weekly emails to Dudley Council after logging every latest encounter on a dictating machine. "I've lost count of how many reports I've made about both potholes and stray horses - I've been sending these emails for three or four years," he said.

Mr Berrington, aged 54, of Brierley Hill Road, a milkman for 18 years, said: "In the area where I deliver every day I have reported 400 potholes in the last month alone. They could cause serious damage to a motor cyclist, cyclist or pedestrian and cars.

"I've stopped putting milk on the back shelf of my float because crates would fall off when I went over a pothole."

In an email last Monday Mr Berrington asked the council to inspect and repair potholes in Tiverton Close, Kingswinford; Albert Street, Pensnett, and Pheasant Street, Brockmoor. He also said potholes he previously reported - in Bromley Lane, Kingswinford, between Landrake Road and Bromley Bridge, and in Fenton Street, Brierley Hill - were bigger.

He said they were "deep and dangerous" and needing urgent attention. Maintenance and road repairs during the winter freeze have already plunged Dudley council around £350,000 over budget.

And the Local Government Association - the lobbying organisation which represents more than 350 councils - has warned councils in England will struggle to repair potholes caused by the extreme winter weather.

A council spokesman said: "All potholes brought to our attention are inspected and prioritised accordingly. Highways maintenance is a national problem which has been made worse by two severe bouts of weather.

"We will be inspecting the roads and working as quickly as possible to deal with any problem areas, and are currently dealing with around 2,000 potholes a month. Any potholes can be reported on 0300 555 2345."

In another email on Monday, sent to nine different council addresses, including chief executive John Polychronakis, Mr Berrington detailed sightings of 18 loose horses on his round between 2.45 and 9.20am. He says he nearly hit one of two horses in Fenton Street, Brierley Hill, at 2.45am.

On Thursday, the Express & Star published photographs of seven horses trampling over gardens and causing traffic to swerve on Russells Hall estate, Dudley.

Mr Berrington said: "I know the council pays an enforcement agency to remove horses and that there is a programme for repairing potholes. But they are not doing the job as quickly or efficiently as they should."

A council spokesman said: "We work closely with an enforcement agency as well as police and the RSPCA to tackle the problems of horses grazing illegally on public land. We would also ask people to report any problems on 01384 814182."

By Louise Jew