THE COUNTY council may have finally found a cheap solution to the growing problem of potholes - painting over them.

Road markings in Cumnor were all repainted last week and residents spotted what appeared to be an attempt to paint over a pothole.

But villagers said the technique had fooled some cyclists and that it had actually made the problem worse.

The council insists it was 'more efficient' to paint over them before a different team fixed the road. 

Cumnor resident Gordon Stokes said that according to the Fix My Street website, which the council responds to, approximately five or six potholes were reported in and around Oxford Road in Cumnor on February 27.

But he said nothing had been done to fix the problem except 'ridiculous' white line line painting.

He said: "This approach may be saving money for the county council in the short term but it's not providing a public service.

"I'm sure it's more important to spend money on potholes than redoing white lines which were visible before."

Several more potholes have been marked but not yet fixed.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: "The lining team do not carry out pothole repairs and made a decision to repaint the speed limit marking despite the pothole as it was more beneficial for the marking to be there than wait until a repair had been carried out.

"Under the circumstances this was the most efficient way of carrying out the work.

"The lining team reported the pothole and this will be filled and the small area of lining replaced once that is done."