UK's pothole hotspots - is your region among the country's worst?

Potholes are a constant pain for UK drivers, with drivers spending billions each year fixing damage caused by poor road surfaces.

Now new data has revealed the UK regions with the most potholes, as well as those spending the most - and the least - on putting them right.

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According to figures obtained from councils via Freedom of Information legislation, Cornwall has the most potholes of any region in the country, with 210,311 separate holes reported to the council since 2017. Cambridgeshire is second on the list of shame, some 24,000 potholes behind.

Behind them, Derbyshire (172,000), Devon (147,779) and Oxfordshire (110,106) all have major pothole problems while four Scottish councils - Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire and Glasgow also made it into the 20 worst-hit regions.

(Data: MoneySuperMarket)

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At the other end of the findings, London’s Kensington and Chelsea recorded just 141 over the three years, followed by the Isle of Anglesey (290) and Sunderland City Council (320). Five of the council areas with the fewest potholes were in London.

Potholes are a nuisance and cause discomfort if you hit one but they are also potentially dangerous. They can cause damage to tyres, wheels and suspension components which can lead to accidents.

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Every year, councils pay out millions of pounds in compensation to drivers whose cars have been damaged by hitting a pothole. Figures released earlier this year revealed that Surrey faced the most claims for damages and paid out the most in compensation in 2018-2019. It received 3,533 claims and paid out a total of £323,222.

Local authorities also spend millions trying to fix the problem and the figures obtained by MoneySuperMarket show that Wiltshire, which is still among the 20 worst local authorities for potholes, has spent the most on tackling the problem, investing £69 million in the last three years.

(Data: MoneySuperMarket)

Some way behind it, spending £51m is Warwickshire County Council, ahead of Cheshire West and Chester (£38.6m)

With just the 141 potholes to worry about, Kensington and Chelsea council spent just £33,000, around 25 per cent less than Rutland County Council put into filling potholes.

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Deepa Patel, car insurance spokesperson at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “As most drivers will know, potholes are a real nuisance. It’s not only that they can be dangerous from a safe driving perspective, but they can also cause damage to your car. Burst tyres, problems with suspension and even damage to your vehicle’s body work – potholes can really make their presence felt.

“The cost of repairs for this kind of damage can be high, so it’s important you have the correct level of insurance cover – particularly if you live in an area where potholes are common.”

(Data: MoneySuperMarket)

(Data: MoneySuperMarket)