For months, residents of a small village in England had been dealing with a worsening pothole problem. But when complaints fell on deaf ears, one local man decided to take matters into his own hands—with a prank so eye-catching that it was impossible to ignore.
On February 23, 41-year-old carpenter James Coxall set up a humorous but striking display on Haverhill Road in Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire. Using old clothes, rags, and a pair of sneakers, he created a fake set of legs sticking straight up out of a massive water-filled pothole, making it appear as though someone had fallen in. The prank quickly caught the attention of local residents—and eventually, the authorities.
A Creative Response to a Frustrating Problem
Coxall explained to the BBC that the road had been riddled with potholes for eight months, yet no repairs had been made. While not a heavily trafficked area, drivers had no choice but to either slam on the brakes or risk damaging their vehicles by hitting the crater-like holes when encountering oncoming traffic.
Tired of waiting for action, Coxall decided to “have a bit of fun” while making his point. With help from his wife and kids, he gathered an old pair of jeans, stuffed them with rags, and used wood to keep the legs standing upright. The finishing touch? A pair of sneakers that were originally meant to be donated to charity. “We figured we’d give them an outing first,” Coxall joked.
To keep his prank from tipping over, he weighed it down with a brick and carefully positioned it in the middle of the water-filled pothole. Once satisfied with his work, he snapped a photo and posted it in two local Facebook groups—Odd Things Around Cambridge and a Haverhill community page. The response was immediate, with people sharing the image and flooding the comments with amusement and support.
From Laughter to Action
What started as a lighthearted joke soon gained real momentum. “It’s just a bit of fun, and I’ve had lots of messages about it,” Coxall told the BBC. “People seem to like it around here, but then again, I am known as a bit of a joker.”
While the prank amused local residents, it also served a bigger purpose. The viral nature of the stunt forced local authorities to take notice. The Cambridgeshire County Council responded to the growing attention, stating that a highways officer would be sent to inspect the road and that “repairs will be made as required.”
In addition, the council encouraged residents to report potholes through its online reporting tool—a solution that, until Coxall’s prank, seemed largely ineffective.
The Power of Humor in Community Activism
Coxall’s inventive approach to the issue proves that sometimes, a little creativity can go a long way in getting local governments to listen. While potholes are an ongoing frustration for many communities, his prank turned the issue into a widely shared conversation, ultimately leading to real action.
As for Coxall, he remains amused by the whole ordeal. While he didn’t expect his prank to gain as much traction as it did, he’s glad it made people smile—and even happier that the road might finally get the repairs it desperately needs.
