A "death-trap" manhole issue near to Cumnock bus station has been reported for a full repair, according to roads bosses.

Images shared with the Chronicle earlier this week showed that a manhole cover had been completely dislodged close to steps between Cumnock bus station and The Square.

This left a hole of around four feet deep.

Since then, Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA), which works on behalf of East Ayrshire Council, has temporarily fixed the issue, with it being reported to Openreach, which is responsible for this site.

Locals have warned that it's fortunate that nobody was seriously hurt in this time.

(Image: NQ staff)

One person said: "It was a death-trap of a hole.

"People walk their dogs around that area, kids could be running along that part of pavement or there could be elderly people coming from the bus that could all have been badly hurt by this.

"It's shocking that it's got to this state, whether it was caused by vandalism or wear and tear.

"There's enough issues round about the station as it is, without someone getting serious hurt by something like this."

Cumnock Community Council member Michael McPake said it's been an issue he's been aware of for a number of years.

He said: "I've been complaining about that cover for over three years, it's an accident waiting to happen.

"I've stopped writing about the vandalism around the bus station because my moaning just didn't work."

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An ARA spokesperson said that a temporary fix had been put in place.

They said: "The defective manhole was temporarily repaired by the Ayrshire Roads Alliance Roads Maintenance Unit on Wednesday morning, and the defect has since been reported to the responsible utility company for a full repair.

"The Ayrshire Roads Alliance encourages members of the public to report faults on their website."

An Openreach spokesperson said: “We’re grateful to East Ayrshire Council for flagging this damage and making it safe pending permanent repairs.

"We haven’t had any previous reports of concerns about this box through the usual legislative process.

"We’ll arrange for further work to be done by our contractors as soon as possible.”