Council leaders have warned the number of extra cars being driven on the roads would cover the entire length of Britain’s coastline if lined up next to each other.

Figures show that 3.6 million additional cars were licensed between 2009 and 2019, an increase of 13%.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that over the same time period, annual council spending on highways and road maintenance fell by 32% as a result of funding cuts and increased demand for other services.

It is calling on the Government to reinvest 2p of existing fuel duty in local roads maintenance. It also wants councils to be given five-year infrastructure and public transport budgets.

Cllr David Renard, the LGA’s transport spokesman, said: ‘The sheer volume of traffic on our roads has completely overtaken the amount councils are able to spend on local transport.

‘Councils need long-term funding certainty and investment so they can create safe and attractive cycling and public transport networks, and deliver a more resilient roads network.’