Motorists are being warned to expect a "plethora of potholes" by the spring due to the cold and wet winter so far.

With Kent bracing itself for potential snow as a cold snap moves in for the coming few days, the RAC warns the rise in potholes appearing on the county's roads over recent weeks, are set to increase.

Earlier this month, residents in Tenterden said they were suffering a pothole crisis - with holes appearing just days after repairs were carried out.

Speaking to mark National Pothole Day, the RAC's head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “The wet weather we’ve had both before and after the coldest start to winter in 12 years in December is the perfect recipe for potholes to start peppering the roads.

"We fear that by the spring, drivers will be plagued by a plethora of potholes across the country’s roads which makes journeys uncomfortable and frustrating or, worse still, could lead to very expensive garage repair bills – the last thing anyone wants in a cost-of-living crisis.

"It’s also important to remember that potholes are so much more than just an annoyance, they are a true road safety danger, especially for those on two wheels as they represent a huge risk to their personal safety."

Potholes are formed by water getting into cracks in the road. When temperatures plunge, the water turns into ice, expands, and causes damage to the integrity of the road surface.

The result is a growing number of holes in our roads - all of which can pose potential damage to vehicles.

In 2021, Kent was named the 'Pothole Capital of the UK' following research by Go Compare.

The RAC director adds: "As many drivers will no doubt testify, there are too many occasions where potholes have been poorly patched up by cash-strapped councils which then return all too quickly.

"It’s frankly absurd that, as a country, we seem unable to get on top of such an age-old problem when roads play such an important role in people’s everyday lives – and are vital to moving goods and businesses delivering services.

“Councils are crying out for more funding to do a proper job in getting their roads up to a decent standard.

"With drivers still rating the ongoing poor state of the roads as one of their biggest motoring frustrations, they can only hope that 2023 is the year when the Government finally sits up, takes notice of Britain’s perpetual problem with potholes and comes up with a better way to solve it.”