Potholes are forcing drivers and insurers to fork out at least £1m a month on repair bills, according to the AA.

The number of pothole-related claims has shot up this year, with more during the first four months of 2018 than the whole of 2017, as reported by Sky.

The AA said there have been more than 4,200 claims for pothole damage across the UK already this year, compared with just over 3,500 claims for the whole of last year. An average repair bill is estimated at about £1,000, meaning the total this year is £4.2m - or £1m a month.

When the damage is just to a tyre or two, most drivers won't make a claim as it will lead to them losing their no-claims bonus, so this figure doesn't include smaller incidents.

Claims are for things like damaged suspension, steering and axles, or even being knocked off course by a pothole and hitting other vehicles, kerbs or lampposts.

This year the AA has also seen a number pothole claims in which the car has been left completely un-driveable.

It is urging drivers to flag potholes to the their local council, so that the council knows they exist.

The AA is also calling on the government to ring-fence 2p per litre of current fuel duty to create a £1bn pothole fund for local councils.

Punchline said: "We know that council budgets are under a lot of pressure, but anyone who has driven on Gloucestershire's roads over the last few months will be surprised that repair bills are as low as £1 million. Now the warmer weather is here, we look forward to seeing the worst potholes around the county being repaired."

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