Engineers working to keep Suffolk’s roads in good shape could turn to a new weapon in the battle against the menace of potholes – sunflower oil.

Engineers at Highways England – which manages the country’s network of motorways and trunk roads – have started trials with cooking oil after it was discovered that adding it to bitumen roads allowed the surface to “heal” itself after high or low temperatures led to surface damage.

At present this is not used in Suffolk, but deputy county council leader Jane Storey said engineers were following the Highways England trials.

She said: “There are many potential solutions and new innovations for how local authorities deal with potholes including measures to prevent or slow their formation. We have an emphasis on surface dressing which seals roads from water.

“Suffolk Highways has not yet explored the use of sunflower oil in asphalts but will watch the Highways England trial with interest.”