Shallow potholes must be repaired quickly before they grow and cause costly damage to vehicles, it has been claimed.

Liberal Democrat councillors have challenged Essex County Council – the authority responsible for road maintenance – to review its pothole policy.

Currently, any pothole less than 5cm deep does not have to be repaired.

This should be changed and all holes should be filled in more quickly, councillor David Kendall has said.

He said: “The time taken to repair potholes - and the size they need to be before anything is done - is a source of great anger and frustration to Essex residents.

“They pay millions to the county in council tax but suffer from a service that doesn’t meet their needs.

“They are fed up with the damage being caused to their vehicles.”

Cllr. Kendall will submit a motion to the council on October 13, calling for current pothole policy to be reviewed.

The council has been contacted for comment.