Talk of the town: Pothole flowers on your root home?

But one artist has come up with a novel way of making them bearable – flower arrangements.

Australian Steve Wheen, 34, has been using flowers and other small-scale objects to transform urban potholes for the last three years.

“My project is all about turning the crappy into the happy,” said Steve. “Mostly I garden in east London as there is a proliferation of potholes and I’m spoilt for choice.”

His work has even caught the eye of Edinburgh’s Twitterati, who have called for versions of it to be installed in the Capital.

One drawback – transforming Auld Reekie’s craters would surely require eco-works of such scale that several roads will become impassable.

Fringe comedian has the last bath with £10k gift

SCROUNGING around for handouts is nothing new for Fringe acts as they bid to keep their heads above water during their stay in Edinburgh, but one comedian should have no problem doing just that after being donated a £10,000 bath for her show.

Denise Stewart – the star of Dirty Barbie and other Girlhood Tales – has borrowed the luxury limestone tub from Boscolo.

Ronnie Scott, founder of the bathroom specialist, said: “The limestone bath in our window is an absolute beauty, coming from a family-owned quarry in Tuscany and the quality is demonstrated by its £10,000 price tag.”

Sounds like Dirty Barbie – on at Assembly until August 27 – has no excuse not to clean up her act.

Hear it for the authors

THE Edinburgh International Book Festival is about to begin and the literary world’s biggest names are set to descend on the city.

Fans of the written word are to be given a taster of what’s to come with the South Asian Literature Festival, where the focus will be on the listening habits of authors while they composed stories.

Book with pulling power

FOR drivers not in “the club” they are one of the main sources of frustration on our roads. But given the rise of staycations in this never-ending economic meltdown, it’s no surprise to see more caravans on the road.

Now research has revealed that four in ten new “towers” have had no formal training or advice, prompting Straiton dealer Alex F Noble & Son to dish out some friendly advice in the shape of a 19-page guide.

The book costs thousands and comes with a caravan thrown in.