DORSET is to get more than £6 million from the government to patch up its road network ahead of the winter.

The money to improve our roads has come from the Department of Transport and follows an announcement in the Budget by Chancellor Philip Hammond.

It is part of a funding boost for highways coming to the south west region.

The latest funding pot announced includes money for road repairs including sorting out potholes.

Out of more than £71 million coming to the south west, Dorset is to receive £6,165,000.

Councillor Daryl Turner, Cabinet member for the natural and built environment at Dorset County Council, said: “This investment by central Government for Dorset will benefit nearly every resident by investing in road repairs, safety, bus priority or walking and cycling schemes.

"Our road network is also the lifeline for Dorset’s businesses which rely on good quality transport links, so this money is very much welcome.”

The funding from the government comes on top of what has already been spent by the county council to repair roads following winter storms.

Damage was caused after the county was battered by Storm Emma and ‘The Beast from the East’ earlier this year.

Between January and June this year, 16,052 road defects were reported and 14,538 were repaired. This is compared to 12,240 reported in the same period in 2017, with 11,540 repaired.

The Echo reported in September how council chiefs were spending an extra £1.4m fixing roads damaged by storms on top of the £10m already approved for highway maintenance.

Additionally, the Department for Transport allocated nearly £2.25m to Dorset County Council from its Pothole Action Fund.

Roads Minister Jesse Noman said: “Potholes are a huge problem for all road users, and too often we see issues occurring at the same place time after time.

“That is why the Government is investing more in improving our roads than at any time before - £15 billion between 2015 and 2020 and a further £28.8 billion to 2025. Plus an immediate extra £420 million for potholes and local road maintenance just this year.

“The South West will be getting an extra £71 million this winter to keep its roads in good condition to keep drivers and cyclists safe.”