Emergency road maintenance funding is required to stop crumbling roads costing more in compensation and accidents, according to the AA.

Last February’s heavy snow pushed up insurance claims for pothole damage by more than 250% and now the AA is warning of a plague of potholes to contend with in the coming months.

Repairing the potholed roads will cost local highway authorities hundreds of millions of pounds.

But, if the roads are not repaired then drivers, cyclists and motor bike riders will be at risk from expensive damage and injuries.

The AA believes that in the national interest there is a strong case for emergency extra maintenance funding for councils to head off the threat of the vicious circle of compensation claims and hospital costs outweighing the cost of repair to the roads.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Hitting a pothole can damage the tyre, wheel, suspension or steering or even cause an accident.

“We are concerned that, with local authorities already stretched due to the drain of the winter, there will not be enough in the purse to heal our ravaged roads.”