The number of potholes on the roads has rocketed by 90 per cent across the country since the big freeze, a survey claimed today.

The research by insurance company More Than also found seven out of 10 motorists claimed potholes had affected their driving in the last 12 months.

The figures show the number of holes in the road reported since December last year. But council chiefs in Telford today vowed to repair the borough’s roads.

It claimed its Pothole Busters campaign was having a positive impact on the problem.

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Councillor Adrian Lawrence, cabinet member for environment, said: “There’s no doubt that the number of potholes on the roads has increased, following the exceptionally cold weather earlier this winter.

“That’s why we’re putting extra resources into our Pothole Busters campaign, doubling the numbers of teams we have to deal with potholes, because we know that this is a priority for people who use the borough’s roads.

“Our teams have been flat out since we launched the campaign, which will run until the end of March.

“We began increasing, identifying and repairing potholes in early January and the teams have been flat out ever since.

“We are urging the public to help us to continue to tackle this problem by reporting potholes they see to us either online at www.telford.gov.uk or by calling 01952 384000.

“If you spot them, we’re aiming to fill all urgent potholes by the end of the next working day and eight out of 10 reported potholes within two working days.”

The survey revealed that a total of 33 per cent of the 1,478 drivers questioned said potholes had caused them to brake heavily, while more than 30 per cent had to swerve into another lane.

Eight per cent claimed to have driven into the path of oncoming traffic to avoid a pothole, while just under four per cent had swerved on to pavements.

The survey also revealed that more than 16 per cent of drivers had damaged their cars by hitting a pothole and that eight per cent had had a crash or a near-miss.

More Than director Peter Markey said: “December was the coldest experienced in the UK since records began which, unsurprisingly, has heavily impacted our roads.

“We’re extremely concerned at the measures motorists are taking to avoid potholes.”

By Alex James