Norfolk transport bosses are well equipped to deal with potholes this winter

Transport bosses pledged today that they were well equipped to deal with any potholes appearing on the county's roads this winter.

Last winter was the coldest for 30 years and the prolonged period of cold conditions caused severe damage to roads, in particular causing surfaces to break up and potholes to form.

Fears of a recurrence of the problem this winter have also been raised after a report warned that millions of Britain's motorists and cyclists were facing a big surge in problems, even before icy conditions have begun to bite.

A survey of the UK's roads revealed a massive 58pc more dangerous holes opening up on major highways countrywide than this time last year.

But both Norfolk County Council, which is responsible for filling in potholes in the county, except on trunk roads, and Norwich City Council, which is in charge of the city's roads, are confident they can handle anything that happens this winter.

Norwich City Council has just been named as one of the best local authorities at filling in potholes in a nationwide survey.

The national cycling organisation, the Cyclists' Touring Club, which has launched a campaign to highlight the problem of potholes, found that just under a third of potholes had been properly repaired, leaving on average one pothole for every 110 metres of road.

But Norwich was named as one of the best local authorities by the CTC for fixing potholes, with 95pc or more of its potholes filled in.

Norwich City Council spokeswoman Amy Lyall said: 'Potholes are our biggest road maintenance priority during the winter months. We rely on potholes being reported to us to mend them – so we would urge anyone who is aware of a pothole to ring the council and let us know.

'While we cannot at this stage predict what the weather will be like this winter, we are fully prepared for all eventualities.'

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for travel and transport, said that the work already done would make sure the roads suffered less damage in another spell of severe weather.

He said: 'Surface dressing is very good at preventing potholes as it stops water penetrating the surface. It is freezing and thawing of this water that causes many potholes. Last winter, roads that had been surface dressed in 2009 showed very few potholes. To have resurfaced or surface dressed 675km of roads should protect them from the worst effects of the coming winter.'

Is there a huge pothole near where you live? Call David Bale on 01603 772427, or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk