A driver has spoken of his anger after his new Jaguar car was badly damaged by a pothole.

Peter Kemp is facing a £500 repair bill after East Sussex County Council refused to pay for the damage.

Mr Kemp was told that the local authority would not pay out because no one had notified them of the pothole.

The 57-year-old was driving with his daughter Hayley when he hit the crack, which he describes as 3ft long and 18in wide in Gote Lane at the entrance to Gote Farm, Ringmer, near Lewes, last month.

Mr Kemp, of Wellington Road, Newhaven, was driving a 2003 Jaguar S-Type which he had only just bought for £7,000 using money inherited from the recent death of his mother. After the incident Mr Kemp reported the hole and the council filled it in within a day.

In a letter to Mr Kemp, the council admitted they had last inspected the road in July.

Mr Kemp said that he would find it difficult to pay for the repairs because he earns less than £1,000 a month working as a security guard at Newhaven Port. An East Sussex County Council spokeswoman said every road is inspected by highways engineers at least once and up to 12 times a year.

She added: “We can’t comment on individual cases, but we can assure you all claims against the council are fully investigated.

“We must be sure any claim fits the criteria for compensation as it will be paid for from public money.

“If we were unaware of a hazard when an incident occurred, despite the inspections of the road, then normally we would not be liable to pay compensation.”

Has your car been damaged by a pothole? Call Neil Vowles on 01273 544530 or tell us below.