A COUNCIL leader has joined calls to address ‘urgent’ pothole problems in the area.

Leader of Pendle council cllr Mohammed Iqbal has written to the leader of Lancashire County Council asking for the urgent release of funds to address the pothole ‘crisis’.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported yesterday hundreds of holes have been reported to County Hall since January 1 alone, prompting councillors to demand improvements are made to the county’s surfaces.

Cllr Iqbal said: “I and other councillors have been inundated with genuine complaints from residents at the pothole crisis across Pendle.

“The response from the county council has been very slow despite an election pledge from the conservatives in Pendle saying they would be allocating extra money to Pendle , the reality is that the conservatives are neglecting Pendle.

“I on behalf of the residents of Pendle are asking LCC to release money immediately and allow Pendle to co-ordinate the urgent repairs needed now.”

County Cllr Andrew Snowden, lead member for highways and transport at County Hall, said yesterday: “We’ve had a lot of wet and freezing weather which is why people are seeing more potholes at the moment, however we’re working hard to fix them as soon as we can."