In Wiltshire, a young man has taken a rather creative approach to a problem that frustrates drivers everywhere—potholes.
Instead of just complaining or filling out endless council forms, 20-year-old Ben Thornbury has been painting giant St George’s Crosses over the craters in his hometown of Malmesbury.
His unusual tactic is aimed at forcing the local council to finally take action.
From White Paint to Bold Red Crosses
Ben doesn’t just splash paint at random.
He first covers the broken patches of road in white, then neatly finishes them off with a bold red cross.
The result is impossible to miss and has quickly caught the attention of both locals and passers-by.
A History of Unusual Pothole Protests
This isn’t the first time Ben has made headlines for his pothole crusades.
He has staged public stunts in the past—from sitting in a camping chair inside a large pothole while wearing a mask of his local MP, James Gray, to turning potholes into mini golf courses where people could play pitch-and-putt.
He has even gone as far as eating his breakfast out of them, just to highlight how long they remain unrepaired.
Linking His Protest to a National Debate
Ben’s latest idea came after seeing England flags popping up across Birmingham, where residents began displaying them in defiance after the city council removed Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses.
Officials argued that attaching flags to high poles and buildings posed safety risks.
The decision, however, sparked outrage and led to even more flags being raised, described by locals as a “patriotic outpouring.”
Inspired by the Flag Rows
“I saw all the flags going up in Birmingham and thought I’d cracked the code for getting potholes fixed,” Ben explained.
He grabbed some white and red paint from his garage and marked five potholes around town.
The reaction, he says, was immediate—many residents messaged him to say it was a brilliant idea.
Will the Council Finally Respond?
Locals have been complaining about the poor state of the roads for months, but Ben believes his antics can speed things up.
He points out that last year, after one of his protests, a resurfacing project was carried out just weeks later.
“I’m proud of my country,” he said.
“If this helps people and gets the roads sorted, then I’ll keep doing it.”
Waiting for Action
For now, the patriotic potholes remain on the streets of Malmesbury, standing out like giant red warnings.
The big question is whether the council will finally take notice—or whether Ben will need to come up with an even more eye-catching protest next time.
