A street artist is taking an innovative approach to getting pot holes and dodgy roads fixed.

The secretive British artist “Wanksy” has been drawing crude depictions of genitalia around potholes, calling attention to them in the hope they will be fixed.

Based on the work of prolific British street artist Banksy, Wanksy’s work seeks to create social change at a ground level.

Granted, Wanksy’s campaign has less powerful metaphoric underpinnings, but is arguably more effective in getting results.

The mysterious penis-painter recently told the Manchester Evening News; “I wanted to attract attention to the pothole and make it memorable. Nothing seemed to do this better than a giant comedy phallus.

“It's also speedy, I don't want to be in the road for a long time. It seems to have become my signature. I just want to make people smile and draw attention to the problem.”

Wanksy says a lot of the potholes he highlights are fixed quite quickly.

The local government is not amused.

Council authorities have labelled the artworks as obscene, offensive to families, and costly to remove (even though Wanksy uses washable paint).

It is hard to compare the potential offence of some residents with the very real physical risk to cyclists and other road-users.

Wanksy’s work is on display at his Facebook page, and it appears the technique is catching on.

Copy-cat examples are appearing on pot-holed roads around the world, as people resort to childish humour and vandalism to get a response to an all-too-serious issue.