FED-UP residents made nearly 14,000 calls and emails to Bolton Council about the state of the borough's roads last year — the highest in Greater Manchester.

Council chiefs last night defended its record on roads saying that only 2,000 of those calls were about potholes — the sixth highest in the region — while other complaints concerned faded lines, damaged signs and faulty street lamps.

The council spent £8.5 million on repairs in 2013/14 new figures have revealed.

That amount dwarfs the amount of money spent in neighbouring towns, with Bury spending just over £1.5 million and Wigan £1.76 million.

The figures were revealed after the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) quizzed all 10 councils in Greater Manchester about their roads.

The FSB conducted the research after members said they would like to see more investment in the region's roads.

Members placed road repairs ahead of major transport infrastructure and better apprenticeships in terms of importance.

The most complained about route in Bolton was Blackburn Road.

Simon Edmondson, regional chairman for the FSB, said: “People in Bolton clearly aren’t happy with the roads and with the extraordinary number of complaints the council there has received there can little doubt about it at the town hall either."

A council spokesman said: “Like other towns and cities across the country, our roads have deteriorated due to a reduction in government grants and consecutive cold winters.

“However, the number of complaints the council received about potholes in 2013/14 was not 13,915 — it was in fact significantly lower at 2,025.

“The figure of 13,915 actually relates to all types of road defects — not just potholes — and includes things like faded lines on roads, damaged signs and faulty lamps.

“We are continuing to invest in improving our roads under difficult financial circumstances."

A £500,000 project is under way to resurface a significant stretch of Chorley Old Road.

The scheme, which is part of the council’s borough-wide road maintenance programme, is expected to take until early August to complete.

Work also ongoing on a £409,000 project to improve a 530 metre stretch of Plodder Lane in Farnworth.

A council spokesman added: "We know that businesses and residents want more investment in the road network.

"We actually spent £6.65 million of capital funding in 2013/14 on major roads projects on top of routine repairs and we are continuing to invest in improving our roads under difficult financial circumstances."

People can report potholes by emailing streetcare@bolton.gov.uk or by calling 01204 336600.