TRAFFIC congestion no longer tops people's concerns for what bothers them most about Worcester - falling to second place for the first time in three years.

A major survey has just gone out to 1,800 households and for the first time since 2011 potholes and the condition of footpaths has taken top ranking.

The Viewpoint survey, the largest of its kind in Worcestershire, is done twice a year and the latest raft of results were collected in May and June.

Traffic congestion is now people's second biggest concern but immediately behind it in third place is public transport - which may have been a reaction to £1.6 million of bus cuts this year.

Activities for teenagers is the fourth biggest worry for residents, with job prospects taking up fifth place.

The results released this week relate to Worcester only.

Taxi driver Asif Ali, a private hire cabbie operating in Worcester, said: "Congestion can be terrible in Worcester but if you ask me it's not as bad as other cities.

"We do need more money spent on roads, the amount being spent by drivers just for going over potholes must be massive every year."

The survey outcome will concern council chiefs, as it comes after record investments in the highways and fewer recorded defects being found than ever before.

Since the survey was done, the Government decided to award the county council £3.3 towards pothole repair, which will help fill in an extra 63,000 this coming winter.

The council say that money is on top of the minimum of £5.7 million that will be spent on pothole repairs in the county by 2015.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "It is always a worry, we are putting more money in and will do all we possibly can to change people's perceptions."

Of the top five things people want to see improved, 49 per cent ranked road repairs and footpaths first, 48 per cent plumped for traffic congestion, while 26 per cent cited public transport as number one.

Some 24 per cent voted for teenage activities, and 22 per cent cited job prospects.

Back in 2013 the survey was mailed out to 1,302 homes and only 306 people replied, so it was increased to 1,846 to get a better response.

In the end 549 people took part, one of the highest figures since it launched in 2009.

In other survey topics satisfaction with council tax went up from 37 per cent to 49 per cent, while happiness with rubbish collections increased from 76 per cent to 81 per cent.

But elsewhere, satisfaction with parks and open spaces fell from 87 per cent to 82 per cent, while just 29 per cent of respondents are satisfied with their housing support service, down from 44 per cent in 2013.

The results are being discussed by Worcester City Council's Tory cabinet which is meeting this Tuesday.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for customer services, said: "The results are generally positive ones, I'm fairly satisfied things are going in the right direction."

The data is circulated to all councils, the fire service, police and NHS.