FRUSTRATED residents are taking a campaign to fix their road, which has 36 potholes, all the way to the top.

Homeowners in Atridge Chase, Billericay, say it has become such a crumbling mess, they are going to the local government ombudsman.

The ombudsman’s job is to take up people’s complaints against councils and get a resolution It comes as Essex County Council is hit with another compensation claim in a street which averages more than one pothole per household.

After concerns raised by the Echo, the county council has admitted the road is dangerous and vowed to carry out works to make it safe.

Denis Hart, 86, who lives on the road, said: “It’s worse than a ThirdWorld country. It’s disgusting.

“I phoned the council over two years ago about this and they haven’t done anything about it.

“The whole street wants this sorting out. Most of the residents down the road are elderly and one has had a nasty fall this year.

“We are all getting frightened about the lights going out and it’s a disgrace to Great Britain in 2013.”

Residents have previously been told the road was fit for purpose.

Barry Baker, of The Hatherley, Basildon, “nosedived” into the road’s worst pothole when visiting his mother on the street.

He is suing the county council after the hole cracked his windscreen and punctured his tyre.

He said: “I went to my mum’s house and the road was so bad if I walked over it, I would have broken my ankle. It needs sorting out.”

Former Billericay town councillor Terence Gandy has stepped in to lobby Essex County Council for a year.

He said: “I am not going to bother with Essex County Council any more as it is not getting on with anything.

“It’s bad enough that the residents have to put up with this, but drivers from other parts of Essex who are not aware of the dangers drive down here at normal speed and have horrific damage to their cars and possibly themselves.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “After a robust investigation and assessment of the area, it has been found that a road defect has deteriorated in condition.

“Works will be undertaken to make safe this defect and a permanent repair will follow soon."