Rain sees surge in cars hitting hidden potholes

HEAVY rain at the start of the year caused a spike in drivers hitting potholes hidden in puddles, new figures suggest.

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The RAC said the daily average number of pothole reports it received from brokendown drivers in February was three-and-ahalf times higher than the same month last year.

It attributed this to the “incredible amount of standing water” on roads which was “hiding potholes”.

Provisional Met Office statistics show England received 42% more rain than usual between December and February, as a string of low-pressure weather systems moved across the UK from the Atlantic, with repeated outbreaks of wet and windy conditions.

The downpours were particularly pronounced across southern and central England.