KARATE expert Paul Ferris was ready to give someone the chop when his van came a cropper on a gaping pot hole in the road.

The damage led to a repair bill of £248.71 which had to come out of his holiday savings.

So furious Paul sent the bill to the highway authority, who he blamed for the mishap.

But the martial arts instructor has now been left fuming after legal eagles refused to pay up.

Paul, of Rainow Way, Wilmslow, who has been a karate teacher for 25 years said: "The impact shattered the axle on my Ford Rascal van which I use daily and it was the pot hole in the road that caused it.

"I'm very angry, that hole in the road broke my van and they should hold their hands up and pay up."

He says the rutt had been in the road for months but was repaired the day after he reported the accident.

Now he wants other motorists to come forward to back him up.

He said: "That pot hole had been in the road for four months and was well known to regular motorists on Prestbury Road.

"I drive up and down every day and usually manage to avoid it but this time, on July 3, I must have been thinking about something else and just hit it.

"I reported the accident and the very next day it was filled in with tarmac.

"After I sent the bill in for payment they had the cheek to say the road is inspected at regular intervals, six times a year, and at the last inspection on May 14 there were no defects, so they are not liable. It's a joke."

Paul, a qualified black belt runs classes at Wilmslow Leisure Centre and elsewhere in the borough.

He was on his way to teach a class of underprivileged children in Macclesfield when his van was damaged and had to cancel.

A reply from lawyers acting for Cheshire County Council, the highway authority, denies liability.

It says: "An inspection was completed on May 14 and no defects were noted therefore it appears the defect had arisen since the date of the last inspection

It adds: "While we accept that the accident is regrettable we do not consider that our client is in anyway negligent or in breach of its duty.

A Cheshire County Council spokesman said: "In accordance with Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 Prestbury Road in Wilmslow qualifies for a safety inspection every two months and this inspection frequency has been adhered to.

"By maintaining regular safety inspections the Highway Authority cannot be held libel for defects, of which we were unaware, in the highway."