CREWS dealing with Gloucestershire’s pothole problem are set to smash this year’s target.

Gloucestershire Highways is on the way to filling in an additional 22,000 potholes by the end of this year, thanks to six extra "find and fix" gangs and the use of a JetPatcher.

This comfortably beats the 15,000 potholes target set when Gloucestershire Highways was awarded an extra £375,000 to fix lower-grade non-safety road defects earlier this year.

The extra money has funded six extra find and fix gangs, who have been working hard across the county identifying and fixing potholes.

It has also funded the use of a JetPatcher, which over the past 16 weeks has been out fixing potholes on rural roads.

The machine works by blasting out hot road material at high speed to deliver a suitable repair in double quick time.

At the same time, local area highway teams have been organising hand-lay and machine patching for more minor road improvements in a three pronged attack on the county’s potholes. Gloucestershire County Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said resurfacing and road repair was a priority.

"I am delighted to see hard work by our road crews is starting to make a difference," he said.

"We’re not complacent and there is still a lot to do. Road condition doesn’t stay still. Every winter our roads take another battering from the elements, but we are putting in place the right tools and the right way of working to help better protect our roads."