Legal advice is being taken over the deaths of two motorcyclists who were killed on the same stretch of East Sussex road within two weeks.

Leslie Bolton, 39, and Giovanni Packham, 43, died following separate crashes on the same spot on the same road after their bikes hit a sunken manhole in Marley Lane, Battle, two weeks apart.

Now, legal action maybe taken against the highways authority responsible for the road.

Mr Bolton, of Braybrooke Road, St Leonards, died on June 26 as he travelled to a friend's house in Robertsbridge.

Highways bosses at East Sussex County Council were afterwards warned the depressed manhole was a hazard by police.

However, inquests into both men's deaths heard yesterday that the 4cm dip was repaired but later became worse and sank a further 1cm.

Just over two weeks after Mr Bolton's fatal crash, on July 14, Mr Packham, known as John, was killed in a crash there.

Both sets of families are incensed that, despite warnings, the road was not properly repaired.

Mr Packham's widow, Karen, says she may take legal action against the council, saying it neglected its duty to ensure roads are safely maintained.

Families were handed pictures in court showing the road as it is now - entirely level, with no apparent dips.

Mrs Packham believes the promptness of the council's actions is an admission it was responsible for neglect.

Graham Furness, the council's area highways managed, said the road was inspected monthly.

He said the previous inspection was June 3. No defects were noted.

Although a depression was noted by inspectors, he said it did not constitute a defect.

Mr Furness also denied that financial constraints meant the manhole was not repaired. He said: "It's a fact that Government Standard Spending Assessments declines year on year.

"We have to look very carefully on what we spend but it wouldn't have had any impact on this as it was not classified as a defect."

Mr Craze recorded accidental death verdicts for both Mr Bolton and Mr Packham.