An extra £10million is to be spent fixing roads in Essex.

Essex County Council (ECC) has successfully bid for £4.4m of Government money to mend pot holes from a national pot of £168 million.

The authority is adding £5.6m of its own funding to tackle the issue. The money is intended for this year, with works carried out by the end of March next year.

Over the next few months 36 road repair gangs, 20 more than usual, will be deployed across the county to fix the worst pot holes and other defects such as drain covers, kerbs and pavements.

Rodney Bass, county councillor for highways, said: “This funding will make a difference. We know that highway defects are one of the biggest sources of dissatisfaction in the county.

“It is encouraging that ECC has been awarded one of the largest shares of the Pot hole Repair Fund announced by the Chancellor in March.

“This is another boost to the investment which Essex County Council itself is already putting in to improve roads, keep transport moving and ensure future economic growth and prosperity in the county.

“I must emphasise this will not fix the entire network of potholes across Essex but it will make a difference.”

ECC will spend a further £1m on white line painting after roads have been repaired.