Highways crews in Staffordshire have taken to the roads in force to fix an estimated 11,000 weather-related potholes across the county.

The spring blitz is being supported by an additional £5 million being invested by the county council in road maintenance over the next twelve months. In addition to this, an extra £2 million is also being invested this year in improving problem road drains, gully emptying and additional roadside grass cutting.

David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said: "A bad winter really does take its toll on the roads but with the milder weather now, we are determined to get back on the front foot in tackling repairs.

"Good roads are hugely important to residents, motorists and of course the economy and it is important to invest in keeping them safe and well maintained. The extra £5 million we are investing this year will help make a difference and allow us to tackle more potholes.

"Staffordshire has a huge road network, with around 6,000km of roads and maintaining such a vast, rural network is a continuous ongoing challenge. Last year our crews fixed around 30,000 potholes with All reported defects being inspected as soon as possible and assessed for their severity. Any defect which poses an immediate risk is dealt with as a priority, and we aim to repair dangerous potholes within seven days.

"Over the spring and summer months our highways crews will also be carrying out surface treatments on many of our roads to preserve their condition. This means these roads will last longer and not require as much maintenance in the future.

"I would ask people to bear with us over the coming weeks and months as our crews work to keep the roads maintained and safe."

Alongside the regular highways maintenance, resurfacing work and huge projects such as the Stafford Western Bypass and Lichfield Southern Bypass, dozens of targeted road safety and sustainable transport schemes are also being planned for the next year. These include, upgrading busy junctions, updating traffic signals and improving footways and cycle paths.

Anyone with concerns about potholes can report them on the MyStaffs App or at www.staffordshire.gov.uk