More potholes being repaired, says county council

More potholes have been filled in the first three months of this year than in the first nine of last year.

The increase in repairs comes as complaints of potholes to Nottinghamshire County Council rose by 70%.

The increase in potholes has been blamed on the harsh winter.

As water under the road freezes it expands, causing changes in the shape of the road surfacing. When the water thaws, there are gaps under the surface that get broken up when they are hit by tyres.

The council is investing an additional £24m in repairing the road surfaces.

This has meant around 35,000 potholes were filled between February and April — around one every two minutes.

Mr John Cottee, chairman of the committee that oversees roads, said: "The harsh, freezing conditions during the past winter have had a detrimental impact on the condition of our highways and explains why we are seeing more potholes than usual. This is why we are investing more than ever.

"While it is not possible to repair all of Nottinghamshire’s roads with the funds available, our teams are working hard to make sure the repairs we do will save taxpayers’ money in the long-term and that the network is kept safe."