Highway bosses will receive hundreds of thousands of pounds extra to tackle potholes in Suffolk next year, the EADT can reveal.

The Government will increase Suffolk County Council’s pothole fund from £1,384,000 this financial year to £1,763,000 in 2017/18.

That should be enough to repair 33,000 potholes – up from an estimated 26,113 this year.

The news will be welcomed by motorists who have paid the price for what some have described as the “deterioration” of Suffolk’s roads. Where do you think potholes and road maintenance work should be targeted? Let us know in the comments below.

Pothole compensation claims have risen by a third in Suffolk in the last two years, from 302 to 415, suggesting more drivers are suffering burst tyres, damaged vehicles and scraped bodywork. Only a quarter of claims are successful, nationally, and the AA believes the majority of drivers choose against claiming for fear of losing their no-claims bonus.

Last night, Labour transport spokesman Sandra Gage said: “I welcome this money because it is very much needed in Suffolk, which has seen a deterioration in the road network.

“Drivers and cyclists in residential towns are bearing the brunt of Suffolk County Council’s cuts and I hope the additional money is targeted specifically on residential roads, as well as rural villages, where a lot of potholes do not get attention.”

SCC pledged in May to spend £10m from its reserves to fund 500km of new road surfacing, targeting potholes on rural roads.

James Finch, cabinet member for highways and transport at SCC, declined to comment yesterday afternoon, as he had not received confirmation. The announcement is due to be made today.

Previously, he has said that addressing underlying causes for road deterioration is prioritised over “repeated short term patch repairs”.

Road surveys have shown gradual improvement in road condition since 2011, he has also said.

The most common pothole roads in Suffolk include: Sproughton Road, Ipswich; Stoke Road, Polstead; Lakenheath Road, Icklingham; and Cheveley Road in Moulton.

Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said parts of his constituency, including Rushmere St Andrew, are “badly in need of road resurfacing”.

The 27% annual pothole budget rise for Suffolk is lower than the 53% rise for Norfolk, which is benefiting from a £1.6m to £2.4m increase. Essex is receiving a 25% rise, climbing to £1.8m.