LOCAL authorities in Gwent were hit by 254 claims by drivers for damage caused to their vehicles by potholes in the last financial year.

Of these cases, 44 were succesful and saw councils pay out £13,186.41. The total number of cases submitted has risen slightly from 2012/13 when 230 cases were seen, but 55 were successful and £14,255.34 was paid out.

Across the UK 50,000 drivers made claims against councils for pothole damage to their vehicles.

The 200 (out of a total of 207) local highways authorities In England, Scotland and Wales who responded to FOI requests by the RAC Foundation dealt with 48,664 compensation claims in the 2013/14 financial year.

This is the equivalent of roughly one claim being submitted every eleven minutes day and night, 365 days a year and an increase on the 2012/13 figure of 46,139 claims.

However councils refused the majority of claims, agreeing to pay out in less than a quarter (23%) of cases.

The total value of successful claims was £3.2 million.

The average payout for a successful claim in 2013/14 was £286, down from £357 the year before.

The average administration cost of each claim – successful or not – was £147.

A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent council said: “Although there is a significant demand on the reactive maintenance budget, we have a robust inspection regime and utilise our highway systems to keep excellent highway records. We have also invested £5.8 million Prudential Borrowing which has been implemented over the last 3 years to improve the highway network.”

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: "The council uses a regime of routine inspection and reactive maintenance in order to keep our roads in a serviceable condition. This regime is part of the code of practice for ‘a well maintained highway’. Our inspectors will use a risk matrix to prioritise repairs and the maintenance team then undertake repairs in a programmed and efficient way."