AROUND one in every 50 miles of main road in Bolton is in need of repair, according to Department of Transport figures.

Council-run roads were surveyed in the 12 months to March 2021 and classed as "red" if they should be considered for maintenance.

Findings show that two per cent of A roads in Bolton were put in this worst category, unchanged from in 2019-20, while two per cent of B and C roads were also in need of work.

AA head of road policy Jack Cousens, said: "While the Government claims road conditions are stable, the harsh reality is that they are stuck in a rut.

"Road users don’t have to travel too far from home to see a plethora of potholes, fractured tarmac, worn away surfaces and faded road markings which make driving and cycling uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst.2

The proportion of A roads in need of repair in Bolton is below the average across England, where one in every 25 miles is in poor condition.

The examinations are largely done using scanner machines, which identify sections of road worn by use or affected by ruts, bumps or potholes, but the Department for Transport said a different method was used in Bolton, which means the area should not be directly compared to others.

The government department said the proportion of roads in the red category is “stable” following a slight increase during 2019-20, but there has been no change since 2015-16.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The Government is investing over £5 billion in roads maintenance over this Parliament, enough to fill in millions of potholes a year, repair dozens of bridges, and help resurface roads up and down the country."