WHEN shopkeeper Pete Dore spotted a three-foot hole in the middle of a busy Gorse Hill street, he was alarmed.

But authough he alerted the authori-ties, he was astounded to find the manhole in Chapel Street, just off Crick-lade Road, was left covered with a temporary metal sheet and a warning cone for the best part of six months.

Now, following an inquiry from the Evening Advertiser, the hole has finally been covered up.

Mr Dore, 60 and owner of Jensons clothes, said: "It is in one of the busiest sections of the street as people walk from the car park to the Co-op. Most people have to pass it. What would happen if a blind person was walking along and couldn't see the cone?

"Somebody could easily come along at night and trip over the metal piece, or even move it."

He said that the manhole cover was first reported faulty about six months ago after one of its edges had broken.

Following swift work by Thames Water, which is responsible for the problem, Mr Dore said: "It looks quite safe now. They only took about an hour to fix. I congratulate the Adver on helping get these matters noticed and brought to the attention of the relevant authority."

Mike Poole, the senior environmental health officer for Swindon Borough Council, said: "It was first brought to my attention last Monday and I looked at the chamber the following day.

"I determined it was one that Thames Water should take responsibility for and contacted a representative there."

Andrew Boyd spokesman for Thames Water said: "We alerted our contractors to the problem and the manhole cover has now been mended."