The real danger of Wiltshire’s pothole epidemic has been highlighted by the horrifying experience of a Worton woman, who feared she would be run over when she fell in a pothole while walking her dog.

Yvonne Joyce-Midgley was involved in a horrifying near miss in which she and her dog narrowly avoided being hit by a speeding car.

Walking on Mill Road, near to her house, a speeding car hurtled around the corner from behind her, forcing Yvonne to dive out of the way.

She fell into a gigantic pothole on the side of Mill Road, brimming with dirty water, while her dog panicked and ran into the road, and was only saved from being run over by oncoming traffic by Yvonne waving her torch.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: The 40mph speed limit signs leading up to the C20The 40mph speed limit signs leading up to the C20

She said: “It was a terrifying few minutes. If a vehicle had been following the speeding car I have no doubt I would have been killed.

“The pothole is so deep my prostrate body was at the same level as the road surface, a lorry, tractor or car would have mowed over me. This particular pothole parallel with the garden at 1 Mill Road has been there for years, it’s been left to deteriorate and is now a real danger to pedestrians and drivers alike. It’s time Wiltshire Council repaired it.”

She says residents take their lives in their hands each time they step outside their front doors because of the lack of pavements and speed of passing drivers. What’s more, 40mph signs just 20 metres from the busy C20 have added to their fears.

Yvonne added: “It’s ironic that we live in peaceful countryside but can’t step out of our doors and walk safely. Wiltshire Council needs to seriously look at the situation and consider reducing the speed limit to 20mph in residential areas of Mill Road.”

In Devizes, new concerns have been raised this week over at large potholes across the town. New road defects have been spotted across streets as winter weather over New Year affected road conditions, with a stretch on Potterne Road now referred to as “terrible” by local residents.

Wiltshire Council say they are “spending more on reactive road maintenance than ever before” and focusing on planned maintenance that stops potholes appearing in the first place.

Responding to Mrs Joyce-Midgley’s accident, and asked if the pandemic had affected road repairs, Cllr Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways, said: “I am very sorry to hear of this incident, and I hope it will also serve as a reminder to us all of the dangers of speeding.

“During the winter months, road surfaces are more likely to deteriorate and the recent wet weather and prolonged sub-zero temperatures have increased potholes considerably.

“Our highways teams have worked throughout Christmas and New Year to repair roads and they will continue working hard to improve our road network. Residents can help us to identify roads in need of repair and receive updates on their report by using MyWilts at: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywilts-online-reporting”