MORE than 22,000 extra potholes are going to be repaired across Worcestershire after the Government coughed up a surprise Christmas present.

The Department for Transport has awarded Worcestershire County Council an extra £1.1 million to help repair cracks, divots and bumps in the highways network.

The cash, which is on top of the £13.3 million of central Government cash for road maintenance in 2017/18, has come from a special 'pothole allocation fund'.

Across the West Midlands region only Staffordshire has secured a better deal, which will get £1.5 million from the handouts due to be dished out in April.

The figure for Worcestershire follows Chancellor Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement last month where he made roads investment one of his key priorities.

Using Treasury calculations of £53 per pothole repair, officials say the £1.16 million for the county should tackle just over 22,000 of them.

Cllr Marcus Hart, cabinet member for highways at County Hall, said: "Obviously I'm pleased with any extra money that comes from central Government.

"We've got many thousands of kilometres of roads to look after in this county and residents will know that looking after both the highways network and pavements is a key priority for us."

More than 16,000 potholes have been repaired since April but the sudden cold snap - which forecasters say will run well into January - could reap havoc on the roads.

Temperatures have dipped below freezing every night this week in the county and more frosty conditions are expected into the New Year.

At the moment around 500 potholes are being repaired each week, with the entire 2016/17 financial year expected to see the tally hit 28,000 by the end of March.

The £1.16 million from the pothole fund for 2017/18 compares to £829,000 the county received in this financial year - a 40 per cent uplift.

Worcestershire's gain appears to be at the loss of several other counties, who have seen their allocation stay virtually flat or fall slightly.

Mr Hammond has faced some criticism that his Autumn Statement focused heavily on roads and infrastructure, but not on adult social care - with local authorities being urged to push up council tax bills further this April to help fund it.