DRIVERS claim they are being forced to use the wrong side of the road to avoid "dangerous" potholes.

Cabbie Ralph Morgan, 72, said that Laindon Link, close to the Elizabeth Way junction, is the most troublesome stretch of road in the borough.

He believes his taxi would be badly damaged if the drove over the deep potholes.

Mr Morgan, from Pitsea, has branded the road a "nightmare" and is urged the council to take action before there is a serious accident.

He said: “There are so many drivers who are in effect committing a road traffic offence in having to avoid the potholes there.

“They are so bad that on that bit of road, and they always seem to come about every couple of years. If I travelled over them in my cab, it would do a fair bit of damage.

“I understand that it’s a very busy road, so of course repairs will be needed on a regular basis. But I have to say, that this time it really has got into a state of disrepair.

“It’s also a bus route too, so there needs be something done about, before there’s a major accident.”

Mr Morgan said he believes roads in the borough have become “forgotten” as he has seen little sign of repairs being carried out to damaged areas over the last six months.

He added: “I do find it worrying that the council’s highways vans haven’t really been out in force since Christmas, certainly none that I have seen.

“It does seem as though our roads have been forgotten here.”

Alan Bennett, Labour councillor for Lee Chapel North, has urged drivers to report the potholes to the council.

He said: “If enough people report this, then there’s a far greater chance of something getting done.

“Clearly if drivers are having to swerve onto the other side of the road, then that can’t be good at all.

“I would urge people to report this through the official channels, and make Essex County Council aware of the problem. It’s far more likely to be resolved that way.”

Last month the Echo reported that motorists across the county are set to benefit from a multi-million pound pothole fund.

It was revealed that more than £8.3million will be spent on pothole repairs across Essex over the next five years.

The Government Pothole Action Fund will hand £1.5million to Essex County Council this year alone, with £65,000 going to Southend Council and £110,000 to Thurrock.

An Essex Highways spokesman confirmed that the stretch is scheduled for repair as part of the authority's ongoing maintenance programme.