One giant leap … into a pothole

THE big freeze has left some Aberdeen roads so covered in potholes that they look like the "surface of the moon".

The cold caused havoc on Scotland's roads with melting snow uncovering giant potholes causing major damage to cars.

The local authority in Aberdeen closed off part of the city's Angusfield Avenue in the interests of public safety after residents complained about the road subsiding.

Councillor Martin Greig said: "There has been a history of potholes in this street and the crumbling carriageway now appears like the surface of the moon."

City roads manager Mike Cheyne said the scale of the damage was not isolated to the city and he was expecting to see craters appear elsewhere.

He said: "It wouldn't surprise me if we get more. It's the same situation we've got at a couple of other roads. The frost must have been further into the ground than usual. This is the first time I've seen so many roads go to that extent.

"It has happened because cars are pushing the road down and pushing the sub-surface up."

Mr Cheyne said the process was called "frost-heave" and ground underneath the road resembled a sticky substance, like clay or silt.