Transport secretary Chris Grayling has announced almost £100m extra cash for councils to help repair roads badly affected by recent cold weather.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the money will help repair almost two million potholes, as well as helping to protect the roads from any future severe weather.

Officials said the new cash is on top of the £75m already given this year to councils via the Pothole Action Fund.

Mr Grayling said: ‘We have seen an unusually prolonged spell of freezing weather which has caused damage to our local roads.

‘We are giving councils even more funding to help repair their roads all road users can enjoy their journeys without having to dodge potholes.’

Cllr Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, called the move 'positive', but added: 'However, the funding announced today will provide just over 1% of what is needed to tackle our current £9.3bn local roads repair backlog.

'When exceptional weather occurs, the impact on local roads can be significant, and it’s essential this is measured and that funds are provided for serious repairs, so that traffic can move freely through our communities and local economies and businesses aren’t impacted.

'Councils are likely to need more support from the Government as the full extent of the repairs needed after the recent winter weather has been made known, and we hope that the Government will stand ready to provide this.'

This story first appeared on Transport-Network