A pensioner has warned native authorities they "don't know what is coming for them" after he was fined for filling a pothole. Claudio Trenta, 72, had reported to numerous authorities within the small city of Barlassina, in Lombardy, northern Italy the presence of a 30-centimetre gap on a pedestrian crossing.

After ready for some three months for the opening to be stuffed, he determined to take the matter into his personal fingers and fill it with chilly bitumen.

Mr Trenta, who's lively on social media, took to Facebook to talk about what he had completed.

Just a few days later, he was slapped with a £767 (€882) high quality and was ordered to carry again the general public house to the state it beforehand was.

But defiant Mr Trenta has determined to combat again and mentioned he'll file a counter-complaint towards the council for negligence.

Recalling the incident to Italian day by day Corriere Della Sera, Mr Trenta mentioned: "I bought a pack of cold bitumen, I closed the hole in late April and wrote a post on Facebook - basically I reported myself.

"I did it 20 days in the past and now I acquired some €900 in high quality. They assume they're making my life troublesome however they do not know what's coming for them."

The pensioner, a former IT technician, added he won't pay the fine, saying: "How can I pay such a sum after masking up a gap? I stuffed it, not opened it! They do not wish to train me a lesson, they're making enjoyable of me."

Mr Trenta additionally confessed when he obtained the high quality he was involved, after studying how a lot it amounted to, about his spouse's response.

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He mentioned: "I smiled, however she acquired actually indignant, and informed me: 'You by no means thoughts your personal enterprise!'"

The astonishing fine caught the attention of many high-profile personalities in Italy, including Vittorio Sgarbi, an undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture.

The politician and art critic wrote on Twitter: "As nicely as the foundations of the street frequent sense additionally exists. Common sense ought to have advised the municipal police to thank this gentleman."

Mr Trenta said he isn't "used to all this publicity", including to native publication Monza Today: "I'll combat to the bitter finish to have this high quality cancelled as, for my part, it’s an injustice. Why high quality me as an alternative of those that knew about the issue and did not intervene?"

The fine, delivered to the pensioner a few days ago, will now be paid by Italian MEP Angelo Ciocca, a member of the right-wing Lega Party.

Pledging to cover the cost of the fine, Mr Ciocca said: "I believe {that a} citizen who reported a problem and, after most likely feeling determined [by the lack of action], determined to fill it needs to be thanked."

Mr Ciocca added he thinks it's "unfair" to leave such a hefty fine burdening the pensioner after he did a "good motion".