The number of vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes is rising to a new high

Statistics show that the number of vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes has reached a new high.

Almost 6,000 calls were received RAC due to the condition of the roads in the three months up to September.

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This represents a 46 percent increase over the same period last year and is the highest since the RAC began collecting data in 2006.

Damage included shock absorbers, suspension springs and deformed wheels. The average repair cost £440.

It is estimated that the cost of repairing the damaged roads is around £14 billion.

It came after 41-year-old Dean Hope climbed into a 5ft crater in East London in April to show its depth – with only his head sticking out.

The RAC’s Simon Williams said: “Our analysis of mishaps caused by potholes unfortunately shows once again that the poor condition of the country’s local roads is causing great pain to motorists, let alone those on two wheels.”

The Government says it will provide £8.3bn to repair holes after the HS2 railway north of Birmingham was scrapped.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are investing a record amount of funding into tackling potholes and resurfacing roads, which will almost double road maintenance funding to local authorities over the next decade.”

Darren Rodwell, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Councils would much rather invest in cheaper and more resilient road resurfacing rather than deal with potholes after the fact.”