A frustrated father has vowed to pursue a claim for compensation after his daughter fell down a manhole with a broken cover.

Robert Lee received a telephone call from his daughter Lisa, 13, as she got stuck in a manhole in Jackson's Lane, Billericay, last May.

Frantic calls to the emergency services and Basildon Council were made, and Lisa was eventually pulled out, with severe cuts to her legs.

Council officers present recognised it was actually a sewer she had fallen down. The council arranged for the cover to be fixed and the work was done within an hour.

Even though the council fixed the problem as a safety issue, it is still unclear who is responsible.

Mr Lee, of Monox Close, Billericay, believes the cover should never have been left broken.

He is attempting to claim compensation from the council, which he believes is to blame.

He said: "The cover should have been fixed and this is up to the council. My daughter received unnecessary harm."

The council maintains it is not to blame and claims officials helped as much as they could at the scene.

A spokesman said: "The call from Mr Lee was the first call we had alerting us of the broken cover, as regular checks are made.

"Our highways officers went to the scene, arr-anged for it to be fixed straight away, and advised Mr Lee his daughter needed medical attention.

"We have tried to find out who is responsible for the sewer, but have been unsuccessful.

"We have taken all the steps we can."

Pain - Lisa Lee awaits treatment beside the manhole with a broken cover

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