MORE than 3,000 pot holes have been repaired across Cambridgeshire in 2010 after unprecedented levels of damage. Cambridgeshire County Council workmen are out in force across the county repairing even more holes, caused by the cold weather throughout th

MORE than 3,000 pot holes have been repaired across Cambridgeshire in 2010 after "unprecedented" levels of damage.

Cambridgeshire County Council workmen are out in force across the county repairing even more holes, caused by the cold weather throughout the winter.

Today, a county council spokesman said: "Highways chiefs have diverted all available resources to the problems and currently have repair gangs of up to four men each out on a daily basis carrying out repairs.

"In South Cambridge seven gangs have been operating; in East Cambs and Fenland nine gangs are working and in Huntingdon six gangs have been repairing pot holes."

The spokesman described the damage as "unprecedented" and added hat extra resources and specialist solutions are being sought to address the problem.

Pot holes have been reported through the county council's website and telephone contact centre. In one week, the county council received 476 reports of pot holes.

County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Mac McGuire, said: "I know many residents are concerned about the level of damage to the roads caused by the winter weather and the road safety hazards that some potholes cause.

"We share those concerns and we are doing everything we can to carry out repairs as soon as we can - we have made this repair work a top priority for our highways staff and we are committing as much man power and resources as we can to fixing the roads.

"In the longer term we are also looking at the most efficient way of carrying out permanent repairs once the freezing weather is over. We have already committed almost �3million of additional money over the next three years to tackle potholes and repair roads after the worst winter for decades."

County Council Service Director for Highways and Access, Mark Kemp, said: "We are trying to make as many permanent repairs as we can, but the continuing cold and wet weather means that some will not last as long as we would like.

"Where we have failures we will have to go back and do a permanent repair and may need to do more substantial work when the weather improves."

• Potholes can be reported online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk or via the council's telephone contact centre, 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, on 0345 045 5212.