A council paid £43,000 to the family of a child who got a splinter after sitting on a playground bench as part of almost £6 million in compensation payments made to claimants over three years. The claim was one of 1,600 made against Croydon council in south London since 2014. Just under 500 were settled by the council after it admitted fault. The biggest payout was £181,000 — to a member of the public who tripped on a pavement damaged during council works. A motorcyclist won £169,000 after falling when riding over a pothole.

Source: The Times November 27, 2017 12:33 UTC