ALMOST £200 million to help improve the condition of roads up and down the country was announced Transport Minister Jesse Norman during a visit to York on Thursday.

The funding will go towards repairing almost a million potholes used for highways maintenance, developing new technologies to improve highways resilience, and high quality cycle parks.

In the North-East, almost £2.5 million will be spent repairing over 46,000 potholes.

Mr Norman said: “People need great roads to get about, do business and see friends and family.

“We’re investing record amounts at present to improve the condition of our roads, so drivers and cyclists don’t have to dodge potholes to travel safely.

“We’re also looking at how new innovations can help councils keep their roads in the best condition, saving money and planning their maintenance better.”

The Transport Minister visited York to see the progress of the innovative pothole spotter trial and a new e-bike, which will be 11th vehicle to have cameras fitted to it as part of the pilot, which is also running in Thurrock and Wiltshire.

The trial sees high-definition cameras fitted to bicycles, buses and bin lorries to monitor road conditions.

It gives councils detailed information so they can fill potholes when they occur as well as plan resurfacing works and help prevent potholes and other road defects.

The £200 million announced includes: £46 million to help repair potholes; £151 million for the local highways maintenance incentive fund; £500,000 competition for connected technologies; £4 million for the Cycle Rail scheme; and an extension to three cycle and walk to work pilot projects.

A further £4 million will enable the government’s Cycle Rail Programme, pays for high quality cycle parking built at stations, to continue next year.

Since 2012, the Department for Transport has invested almost £35 million to build secure cycle storage facilities at stations.