English councils received hundreds of compensation claims for flood damage in recent years as they struggled to maintain roadside drainage, according to a new report.

Local authorities received 740 claims from property owners for flood damage caused by sudden downpours between January 2020 and December 2022, analysis by public sector insurer Zurich Municipal found.

Councils accepted liability in 128 cases and paid out more than £975,000.

Zurich Municipal said the true cost is likely to be higher, as its research involved just 139 of 318 local authorities in England.

Claims involved flood damage from blocked gutters, gullies and culverts, which councils have a duty to adequately maintain.

Zurich Municipal risk expert Alix Bedford said: ‘Reduced funding from central government is making it increasingly challenging for councils to repair and maintain local highways.

‘While potholes are a visible result of the budget shortfalls impacting townhalls, a less apparent yet potentially more devastating consequence is flash flooding.’

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘This is yet more evidence – if it were needed – that the state of many of the UK’s local roads has reached crisis point with local authorities unable to adequately look after their networks.’

Local Government Association (LGA) transport spokesperson Cllr Darren Rodwell said: ‘Instead of paying for costly compensation claims, councils much prefer to use their budgets to keep our roads in a good condition, in turn reducing the risk of damage to vehicles and personal injuries.

‘However, this has become increasingly challenging, with an estimated and growing £14 billion backlog of repairs to bring all local roads across the country up to scratch.’

If this article was of interest, then check out our feature, 'The great pothole repair failure'.