Pothole compensation

No-win, no-fee lawyers are being blamed for a crisis on Britain's roads as 120,000 potholes are left unfilled each year.

Figures from the AA reveal that councils do not have enough money to repair 12% of Britain's 1m potholes.

And the Local Government Association says a rise in the number of accident claims involving potholes is responsible. Councils spent Pounds 56m filling in holes last year but then ran out of cash after paying out Pounds 50m in compensation.

No win, no fee claims

The association says it feels many of the compensation claims for pothole damage are fake.

A spokesman said: "There is a real danger that no-win, no-fee lawyers are clogging up the system with claims from people who are just trying to chance their arm.

This causes severe delays to genuine claimants and costs taxpayers more money in bureaucracy and legal fees."

The number of claims has increased by 78% in London since 1996, by 42% in the rest of England and by 70% in Wales.

"The pothole problem is reaching a crisis point," says AA president Edmund KIng."They are at the top of road users' concerns. It is worrying that although they are tipping off local authorities about this damage it is not being given the importance or priority that it should be."

London's 33 boroughs logged 292,413 potholes last year but repaired only 257,631.

The AA estimates that if the trend is repeated nationwide more than 120,000 potholes are being left unfilled every year.

The Local Government Association also criticised the Treasury for failing to release enough funds. A spokesman said: "In some regions, local councils have to make tough choices between caring for the elderly, repairing the roads and council tax rises."