Major summer scheme under way to prevent potholes

Council cabinet member Charles Whitford said the work could extend the lifespan of roads by about a decade

A major programme of work is under way to protect Leicestershire's roads from cracks and potholes.

Leicestershire County Council said the £3m scheme had seen an extra layer of stone chippings and bitumen applied to 770,000 sq metres (8,288,211 sq ft) of highways across the county in recent months.

Officials said the work typically protected the surface of the roads for 10 years.

"By taking action now, our highways teams can repair road surfaces, helping to prevent more difficult and expensive repairs later," said council cabinet member for transport Charles Whitford.

Whitford thanked drivers for their patience while roads are closed to carry out the work.

So far, the project has seen roads in Hinckley and Coalville treated as well as in villages in the west of the county.

The scheme is due to be completed in September.

The council said the roads were being treated by applying a layer of bitumen followed by stone chippings, which are then embedded into the bitumen with rollers.

In total, about 11,500 tonnes of chippings are being applied at county roads, the authority said.

It said the scheme was making road surfaces more waterproof and would make them more resistant to weather damage over the winter.