Thousands of pounds in compensation has been paid to drivers whose cars were damaged by potholes or other problems on the roads over the last three years, the Express & Star can reveal today.

New figures show that thousands of drivers across the region have been paid more than £250,000 from councils to help pay for their repairs.

The number of claims could jump again after the bad weather this winter meant many roads in the area were damaged by frozen conditions in the cold snap.

In February Staffordshire County Council said it had identified approximately 1,200 new potholes after the bad weather – five or six times the normal number.

And some local authorities have already reported a jump in the number of claims in the last financial year which ended in March this year.

The most claims were made to Birmingham City Council where figures released show that last year 1,305 claims were received by the council for all types of carriageway defects with £25,638 paid out.

Figures released by Staffordshire County Council show in 2009/2010 418 claims were made for solely problems resulting from potholes with £8,463 paid out for 20 claims. Staffordshire County Council’s head of highways operations Ian Turner said today: “If someone has damage caused to their car through potholes then they are entitled to make a claim for compensation.”

In Dudley last year 125 claims were made resulting in payouts worth £7,226. That was up from 89 claims the year before when £14,640 was paid out.

In Walsall last year 135 claims were made with £1,885 so far paid out.