A CABINET member has defended County Hall's pothole policy following the launch of a petition vying for the resurfacing of potholes in a borough.

More than 250 people have signed an online petition asking Lancashire County Council to repair a number of potholed roads in Rossendale.

Jon Edmonson, who lives in Rawtenstall and has set up the petition, has urged residents in the to sign it before delivering it to County Hall.

In the petition, Mr Edmonson said the roads are 'poorly' and 'cheaply' repaired and that multiple claims have been made to insurance companies due to damage to vehicles caused by holes in the road.

He said: "The roads in Rossendale are the worst they have been since the advent of tarmac."

Since the launch of the petition local councillors have spoken out against County Hall's 'lack of investment' in providing a long term solution to the borough's problem.

Rossendale Cllr Janice Johnson, who represents Eden in Edenfield, said: "It's an absolute disgrace.

"The roads are a major concern for the people in Rossendale and a pressing concern that county needs to deal with.

"It's not working putting bits of tarmac in roads and then when we have a cold spell it all comes out again. It's like throwing money away.

"Surely we have the tools to look at what else can be done."

Cllr Granville Morris, who represents Greenfield in Haslingden, said: "There seems to have been a lack of investment in repairs of potholes in Rossendale.

"I have asked for roads in my ward to be resurfaced for years and am still waiting for them to be seen to.

"I worry what the visitors of Rossendale will think and the impression we are giving them on highways."

In response to the petition, county Cllr Keith Iddon, who is the cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We spend however much is necessary to ensure that roads are safe and are working hard to get on top of the winter potholes.

"We're aware that there are a lot of potholes on our roads at the moment, and our repair teams are working hard to repair them.

"We always try to make a permanent repair to a pothole on the first visit, by clearing out the hole, cutting around it and filling with hot bitumen before rolling out, however the quality of repair that can be achieved is affected by the weather and more difficult in wet and cold conditions.

"We committed an extra £5million to repairing potholes in the annual budget agreed last week.

"The final months of 2017 were particularly wet, and the wet and freezing weather we've been having since has created the perfect conditions for potholes to form.

"As soon as the weather improves we will see fewer potholes appearing and we'll be able to make good quality patch repairs where there are damaged areas, and begin our annual programme of resurfacing, which will make a real difference to the condition of our roads."