A motorist who claims her car wheel was buckled by a pothole in a road has been told by Bradford Council she will not receive compensation.

Mrs Jean Britteon said the accident happened near the Bradford and Bingley Sports Club in Wagon Lane, Beckfoot, when she was returning to her Ravenscliffe home after visiting friends in Eldwick in October last year. She fears the same thing may happen to other vehicles if the road is not repaired soon.

But a Bradford Council spokesman said the Council was unable to settle the claim as its insurers, Zurich Municipal, decided it had "made reasonable efforts to maintain the road in a safe and fit condition".

In response to a letter written by Mrs Britteon, the Council's head of transportation and traffic, John Blackburn, said the Council was aware of problems on Wagon Lane caused by additional construction vehicles accessing the relief road site. He added that once the relief road work was completed the Council intended to improve Wagon Lane. But Mrs Britteon said work needed to be done now as the road had got worse, and the relief road work is not due to be finished until October.

She claimed the potholes, mainly at the kerb edge, force people to drive in the middle of the narrow road to avoid them.

Mrs Britteon, a retired teacher at the former Wilsden First School, said: "I still feel aggrieved the Council has refused to accept responsibility for the state of this road and pay the cost of the replacement wheel, which is £67.03.

"There is a principle here because they were aware of the road condition."

Mr Blackburn said: "It makes more sense to wait until the new road is complete to do the (improvement) work as not only will construction vehicles no longer be using the road but there is also an alternative route for motorists to use to avoid the roadworks.

"In the meantime we will continue to inspect the road and carry out repairs.

"With regards to Mrs Britteon's insurance claim, in this instance our insurers decided that we had made reasonable efforts to maintain Wagon Lane in a safe and fit condition."