Law enforcement and the Public Works Department in Cornwall, England, are searching for a mysterious motorist who reportedly filled a giant pothole with cement. The pothole, located at the top of Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel, had caused inconvenience to locals, leading to the road’s official closure in April due to drainage issues.

After a month of government inactivity, an anonymous individual took matters into their own hands and filled the pothole with concrete over the first weekend in May. While the DIY repair temporarily reopened the road, the Cornwall Council’s road repair company Cormac closed it again as their team hadn’t officially carried out the work.

Cornwall Highways chiefs are now seeking the person responsible for the unauthorized repair and removal of signs. The road is expected to remain closed until June 9th, as Cormac addresses a backlog of pothole repairs.

Cornwall councilor Colin Martin criticized the situation, calling it a “perfect metaphor” for public sector underinvestment. He highlighted budget cuts for road maintenance, resulting in potholes appearing faster than they can be filled.

This incident echoes a similar case in Toronto in 2017, where a resident built park stairs for $550 instead of the estimated $65,000 to $150,000 by the city, prompting official action in response to the unauthorized construction.