Lancashire potholes to be filled with unspent HS2 cash

Routes in Lancashire will be resurfaced according to the volume of potholes

Potholes across a county in the north west of England will be filled using cash saved from the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2.

Nine out of Lancashire's 12 districts will see routes improved in a £7.2m plan by the county council.

Burnley, Chorley and Preston will miss out on the funds, redistributed under the government's "Network North" plans.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said "mini-resurfacing schemes" would look to tackle problem areas.

These include roads where "the surface is deteriorating, leading to repeated pothole repairs", he added.

"Another priority for this funding will be drainage improvements to reduce the impact which the prolonged wet weather, such as we've had over recent months, has on the condition of our roads."

The cancellation of the northern leg of the high-speed rail route has led the government to 'reallocate' £4.7bn for councils in the Midlands and the north of England.

The roadworks across Lancashire will be prioritised based on the importance of routes, the volume of potholes, and the cost of compensation claims as a result of faults, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The cash will also be spent on drainage works, street lights, road painting and the resurfacing of roundabouts.