Around 1,500 potholes have appeared on Walsall’s winter-ravaged roads in two just months, it was revealed today. The repairs are costing £6,000 a day.

One of the harshest winters on record has caused complaints about potholes to flood in from across the borough.

Walsall Council would normally spend an average of £3,000 on repairing potholes each day but a dedicated team of inspectors has now been tasked with scouring the streets to highlight the worst-hit spots at a cost of £6,000.

Council bosses believe the total cost of weather-related road repairs will be in the region of £400,000.

Walsall’s transport councillor Tom Ansell said today: “Between December and January, approximately 1,500 pothole orders have been raised.

“These are potholes which have been identified for repair.

“It is currently costing us approximately £6,000 a day on pothole repairs, which is twice the average amount.”

He said four inspectors were working with Tarmac to identify and repair potholes on the borough’s roads

Potholes open up where water repeatedly freezes and expands cracks in the road, causing holes which can damage cars.

Roads across the borough affected by potholes include Wallows Lane, in Palfrey, Scarborough Road, in Caldmore and Moat Road, near Walsall Manor Hospital.