CAMBRIDGESHIRE, UK — A carpenter’s unconventional protest against a water-filled pothole has sparked both repairs and widespread amusement, with residents from across the UK and even as far as Canada now requesting to borrow his creation.
James Coxall, 41, from Castle Camps, made headlines after placing a pair of fake legs upside down in a pothole on Haverhill Road, located on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border, on 23 February.
The legs, crafted from old jeans, colourful shoes, rags, and wooden poles, were intended as a lighthearted jab at the local authorities for their delayed response to the pothole, which had been a hazard for nearly eight months.
Photos of the legs quickly went viral after being shared on social media, drawing national media attention. Remarkably, Cambridgeshire County Council repaired the hole just days after the stunt gained traction online.
Coxall, who described himself as “a bit of a joker,” said the idea was simply to have a bit of fun. “Although it’s not a busy road, if there were oncoming vehicles, you’d either have to stop or hit the pothole and risk a blown tyre,” he explained.
The “pothole person,” as his family dubbed it, was strategically weighted down with a brick to withstand the elements, making it appear as though someone had taken an unfortunate dive into the murky water.
The success of the stunt has prompted residents with similar pothole woes to reach out, asking to borrow the legs to draw attention to unaddressed road damage in their own areas.
While Coxall has yet to decide what to do with the legs—now stored in his back garden—he hinted at further creative protests.
“A lot of people would like them, and I don’t know about that,” he said, adding that he might build something else, like a model of the Titanic or a submarine, to highlight other local issues.
The impact of the prank seems to extend beyond Haverhill Road. Over the weekend, Coxall received multiple messages reporting that council workers were marking up other potholes for repair across the south of Cambridgeshire. Though uncertain if his stunt directly inspired the action, Coxall expressed hope that it had played a role.
As residents continue to request the legs for their own pothole battles, Coxall’s creative protest has not only entertained but also spotlighted the frustrations of drivers fed up with delays in road maintenance.
