Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Norfolk County Council spent £30,659 filling potholes in Dereham in the first seven months of this year - almost as much as the entire total for 2024.

On current trends, expenditure in 2025 will exceed £50,000, sixteen times the £3,105 spent on repairs in 2017.

Spending had remained below £15,000 until 2021.

It then quadrupled from £6,135 in 2020 to £24,047 the following year.

The current peak was in 2023, when costs reached £43,396.

Breckland councillor for the town Alison Webb said the increase in spending was a positive trend, but insisted there had to be pressure on contractors to deliver long-term fixes.

She said: "I welcome the fact that they are spending more money on repairing roads.

Breckland councillor Alison Webb has said the increase in spending is largely positive (Image: Gary Donnison Photography 2021)

"However I do want to make sure they are........

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