Pothole hotline proves a success

A hotline for Middlesbrough residents to report potholes has been hailed as a success by the council.

The line was set up on 1 July in a bid to improve the town's roads, which had suffered widespread damage after two exceptionally cold winters.

Contact centre staff have taken 150 calls, leading to the repair of 1,188 potholes, as well as remedial patching work in advance of further maintenance.

The £247,000 initiative is due to close at the end of this month.

Councillor Nicky Walker, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for transpsort, said: "There was a really good response when the potholes hotline was launched and that enabled us to carry out a great deal of work in the worst affected areas.

"Inspections show the road network is now in very good condition and ready for the cold months that lie ahead, but we still want to hear from people about any potholes that might have slipped through the net."