Villagers in Britain's longest running pothole row dating back to 1960 have been told to pay nearly £100k if they want them repaired.

Furious locals in Furneux Pelham, Herts, have been locked in a bitter dispute with the council for decades about fixing a lane that links the main road through the village to a cul-de-sac.

Hertfordshire County Council said that Whitebarns Lane has always been a public footpath and not a road - meaning it cannot be repaired at public expense.

But with 32 potholes now littered the road, the latest quote from the council in 2016 was £73k to sort the issue - with inflation meaning this would now cost homeowners nearly £100k.

Campaigners say fighting to get the road surface repaired has been a source of anger for decades - with local newspaper reports on the issue dating back to 1960 and 1980.

A Hertfordshire County Council spokesperson said: “It would potentially be possible to adopt Whitebarns Lane as a public road, but only if the landowner, or the residents living along the lane, were able to bring it up to an acceptable standard.

"We have offered to contribute towards the cost of the necessary works.

“In the meantime, we will continue to maintain Whitebarns Lane as a public footpath.”