Claims for damage to cars have risen by as much as 750% due to the poor state of the UK’s roads after the winter’s floods.

One council has reported an increase in claims from motorists whose cars have suffered broken suspension and steering.

Somerset Council said it has experienced a 750% rise in claims for the period from January to February 2014 compared to the same period the previous year.

Other councils across the south of England say they have also witnessed a huge increase in the number of claims from drivers with damaged cars. This is a result of roads that have crumbled due to damage from sustained flooding over the winter of 2013-2014.

It is estimated councils will spend £730 million on compensation to motorists with damaged cars. There is now a call for a new road sign to warn drivers of potholes.

David Gerrans, of Warranty Direct, said: ‘With potholed stretches of road affecting many road users on a daily basis, there’s now real cause to create dedicated signage. Let’s give people a fighting chance of avoiding unnecessary garage bills or even personal injury.

‘If road signs can warn of falling rocks from above then why not craters from below?

"The average bill for pothole damage now runs at £247, so a sign only needs stop a couple of incidents to justify the expenditure. The embarrassment will be for the government in just how many signs need to be put up – there’s one pothole for every mile of road by some estimates."