The City of Hamilton is to use non-slip paint on manhole covers that could be a safety hazard in wet weather.

The corporation took action last week after a member of the public posted on a Facebook group that he had seen people slip on the diamond-patterned covers in rainy conditions.

Bill Tatem, a construction worker, said he was employed at Gibbons Company on Hamilton’s Church Street last week when he saw two people slip on a cover outside the store and fall.

He warned: “Someone could easily fall and break their wrist or something. When it is wet it is like piece of ice.

“I was tired of seeing it so I took a photo and put it up on MAJ’s List. Thank God for social media.”

“The City of Hamilton is painting over them – I think they should all be painted over.”

A spokeswoman for the City of Hamilton said that the manhole on Church Street had now been coated with special paint.

She added: "We will conduct a survey around the city to ascertain how many of these require non-skid painting and will set up a programme to systematically paint them.“