Kent could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of a multi-billion government pot of money to improve local roads.

Councils across England are to get a share of a multi-billion pound fund to improve local roads, transport secretary Chris Grayling has announced.

But the bad news is that the cash will not be available until 2020.

County transport chiefs gave the news a cautious welcome but expressed concern that any money allocated might depend on a commitment that more houses are built.

Mr Grayling said he wanted the money to go on improving and repairing local roads rather than main ‘A’ roads and motorways.

Former Chancellor George Osborne said money raised in Vehicle Excise Duty in England would be used to repair crumbling roads.

As a result, some £5.8bn has been raised through the National Roads Fund in 2016/17.

Cllr Matthew Balfour, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for roads, said: “I am always pleased when the government announces new money for roads.

"But government money does tend to come with conditions and we don’t yet know what the bidding process will involve.

"There has been some talk of it being related to releasing more house building.”

If that was the case, it could place a question mark over councils’ housing targets as set out in their local plans, he said.

However, he was encouraged the government had acknowledged local roads needed investment.

“Local roads have been neglected over a long period and desperately need money spent on them. But we don’t yet know the bidding criteria,” he said.

Improvements were badly needed on roads like Detling Hill and Blue Bell Hill, he said.

“Between our towns and cities, no money has been spent on roads for years and years, so I think Kent can put up a very good case.”

A recent survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance found almost a fifth of UK roads were in "poor" condition, with councils almost £730m short of what was needed to keep the network in "reasonable order".

The KM Group recently revealed how more than 500 pothole compensation claims from motorists were rejected in Kent in two years - on the grounds the council was planning to repair the roads in the future.

Schemes road improvement programmes under the strategy are to be judged on how they contribute to creating a more geographically balanced economy, increase productivity or growth and tackle congestion.