Pothole problems are worsening for Britain's drivers with some councils facing huge rises in compensation claims for damaged cars.

As many as 16% of drivers have been left with damage to their vehicle in the past 12 months, according to a survey from LV= Road Rescue.

It added that councils in some of the areas worst hit by last winter's storms have seen claims for pothole damage rise by 23%

LV= said more than 26,000 compensation claims were made in the 2012/13 financial year - an increase of 13% on the previous year.

It added that councils paid out more than £5 million in compensation for potholes or other road damage in the financial years 2012/13 and 2013/14.

The figures were gathered from 143 UK councils who responded to an LV= request under the Freedom of Information Act. LV= also surveyed 2,003 adults.

The company said that so far this year Vale of Glamorgan Council had already paid out more than £152,000 in compensation, Surrey County Council had paid out £134,000 and Devon County Council had paid out £91,000.

Data from councils showed the A509 in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, and Fir Tree Road in Banstead, Surrey, were some of the worst roads for potholes in the UK.

Among the 16% of drivers who had suffered car damage due to poor road surfaces in the past 12 months, the most common problem was tyre damage followed by suspension problems and broken wheels. A further 16% said they had swerved to avoid a pothole and nearly had an accident.

LV= Road Rescue managing director said: "Persistently heavy rain and flooding earlier in the year created the perfect storm for Britain's pothole epidemic.

"Councils therefore face difficult choices in the roads they prioritise for repair this winter."

The Local Government Association's transport spokesman Peter Box said: "Despite spiralling multi-million pound compensation costs and funding cuts, councils still fixed two million potholes last year.
"But we need long-term funding to tackle the ever-growing £12 billion roads repair backlog facing the nation."

He went on: "Last year's floods caused widespread destruction on our roads leaving people to drive on crumbling highways that are increasingly unfit for the 21st century.

"We share the frustration of motorists and our fear is that another harsh winter could be the tipping point for our roads."