A CYCLIST could face thousands of pounds in legal bills because of his one-man campaign over pot-holed roads.

Consultant Alan Kind will be left with a huge bill if he fails to convince a judge that his previous court success, forcing Newcastle City Council to spend £500,000 repairing a minor road, should stand.

But he believes motorists could also suffer, as it would allow other councils to delay tackling repairs to roads.

Last year, Mr Kind, 50, of Gosforth, Newcastle, made a civil complaint under the Highways Act at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, claiming a minor road was "out of repair".

The council was initially ordered to bring the stretch of road, on the outskirts of the city, up to standard, and was warned lack of cash would not be accepted as an excuse.

But, in March, Judge Judith Moir upheld an appeal by the council and ordered £2,000 costs against Mr Kind.

Mr Kind appealed, and his case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, but Mr Justice Scott-Baker reserved his judgement.

Mr Kind, who has represented himself at all of his court hearings, said: "I did not start out intending that this should become such a big issue. It started off as a simple case involving a small local roadway.

"But it is very important now that the case has gone this far, because it does have serious implications for local highways authorities, and whether they can delay necessary repairs.

"If I lose, the next step would be to take it to the High Court in London, which I would be prepared to do, except it would cost vast amounts of money, and I would only be able to go ahead if I had some financial backing.

"I believe I am right in law, and must just wait to see what the judge now decides."