Nearly 700,000 new potholes were reported on the country’s road over the last year and additional local authority funding is needed to deal with the growing problem, according to road maintenance specialist Instarmac.

"Our roads need extra long term investment in the pothole war,” said campaigner 'Mr Pothole’ Mark Morrell, who took part in the demonstration.

Motoring organisation the RAC says that its patrols attended 20% more pothole breakdowns in the last quarter of 2019 compared to the same period the year before.

Its head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “We might so far be experiencing a milder but wetter winter than in the last couple of years, but our figures clearly show the problem of potholes has not gone away. Our patrols are still attending on average around one pothole related breakdown every hour of the day.”

Asphalt Industry Alliance chair Rick Green said: “Over £1Bn has been spent chasing and filling potholes over the last decade. What’s needed is investment in effective road maintenance, which will improve the condition of our roads and help prevent potholes from forming in the first place.

Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications, CIHT said:

"Everyone depends on the UK’s network of local roads and we need to invest in the arteries of our country to ensure we are fit to compete in the global economy.

CIHT's soon to launch Improving Local Highways report will highlight how to increase investment in maintaining our vital local road network and reducing potholes through working differently."

(Photo Credit: Alastair Lloyd)