Legal experts have welcomed an extra £25.6m to repair North Yorkshire’s crumbling road network as a major blow against the cyclist’s scourge of potholes.

The money will repair and maintain roads linking the towns of Catterick, Harrogate, Malton, Northallerton, Scarborough, Selby, Skipton and Thirsk to nearby villages.

It’s being handed over by the government for North Yorkshire County Council to spend wherever it believes it will be of most benefit and takes the total investment on the county’s roads over the next five years to over £150m.

Work will include resurfacing roads and ensuring potholes aren’t allowed to develop.

Chancellor George Osborne announced that £1.6m would be handed over to repair more 30,000 potholes across North Yorkshire in the 2016 Budget. That came on top of a £24m roads funding boost he unveiled on March 16 as part of the Local Growth Fund after a successful bid by the authority.

A further £4.3m flood recovery money has been allocated by the Department of Transport to help the county recover from last year’s storms.

Potholes in the road are one of the most common hazards for cyclists, with freezing wintry conditions and flooding helping to make the problem worse.

Harsh, cold winters and frequent floods and freezes all take their toll, meaning cyclists must be on the lookout for potholes and crumbling surfaces that can cause them to be thrown from their bicycles and result in nasty injuries.

Macks Solicitors’ cycling accident specialist James Pritchard welcomed the cash injection, saying it can only help increase safety.

“I often cycle around North Yorkshire’s roads and many surfaces leave a lot to be desired, especially after the recent bad weather.

“Even a small pothole can easily lead to an accident that can result in serious injury.

“Local authorities have a duty to maintain roads under their control and it’s good to see North Yorkshire County Council taking this issue so seriously.”

James urged cyclists to report potholes and damaged surfaces on www.fillthathole.org.uk so the National Cycling Charity can let the relevant authority know about the problems.

Macks Solicitors may be able to help you recover compensation if you’re injured as a result of a defective road surface while on your bike. Fill out our claim form for a consultation.