COUNCIL chiefs say they are winning the war against potholes - with 12,000 expected to be repaired over the bitter winter months ahead.

New figures from Worcestershire County Council have revealed how a whopping 16,000 potholes have been repaired since April in preparation for the cold season.

The overall figure for the entire 2016/17 financial year ending in March is expected to reach 27,000 or 28,000, with around 500 being repaired each week.

It comes with temperatures plunging across the county, with most drivers waking up to hard frosts this week in sub-zero conditions.

The Government has awarded County Hall an extra £829,000 this year to repair potholes under a special fund.

Cllr Marcus Hart, cabinet member for highways, said: "We have this year received an additional £892,000 from the Government as part of their 'Pothole Challenge Fund' and this has enabled us to carry out our largest ever summer surface dressing programme.

"In addition, we're embarking upon the 'Driving Home' project with an additional £12 million capital investment over the next two years, to further improve drivers experience on our roads."

Data supplied to the Worcester News also reveal how 76,000 potholes have been repaired since April 2014, with the numbers showing a serious decline.

The overall figures are down around 18 per cent on two years ago, with council chiefs saying record investments in the roads have resulted in far fewer defects popping up.

In 2014/15 they had to repair 33,000 potholes, around 6,000 more than last year.

The drop coincides with a fall in the amount of pothole compensation paid to drivers across Worcestershire.

Last week the Worcester News revealed how last year £10,143 went out to motorists, with that figure £32,829 in 2013/14 and £16,013 in 2014/15.

We also revealed back in January how more than £2.2 million had gone into pothole repairs since 2013.

The council says an independent survey recognised by the Government has placed Worcestershire in the top 25 per cent of areas across Britain for road condition.