MALVERN woman Cara Mitchell is battling for compensation after damaging her car on one of the town's roads.

Miss Mitchell, of Madres-field Road, was driving in Peachfield Road earlier this year when she says she hit a sunken drain, causing around £230 worth of damage to her Vauxhall Tigra.

She took pictures and complained to Malvern Hills Highway Partnership, which referred it to Worces-tershire County Council, which denies responsibility.

Miss Mitchell, 26, said: "We took photographs and sent them to the council but they are not accepting liability or paying any compensation."

The council says the road was subject to a regular three monthly inspection in December, when no fault was seen. Within 24 hours of Miss Mitchell reporting the fault, it was fixed.

The council says the fact the road was faulty does not automatically qualify a motorist for compensation, it has a defence if the inspection procedure is adhered to.

Mike Davis of Malvern Hills Highway Partnership said: "A lot of people think that just because they trip over something that they can make a claim but that isn't the case."

He added: "If we inspect the road and the pot hole isn't there then clearly we haven't been negligent."