Watford's potholes highlighted live on BBC Breakfast

The broadcaster was in town to report on figures released by the RAC, which show the breakdown company saw its biggest-ever quarterly increase for breakdowns related to suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers - classic symptoms of drivers hitting potholes.

RAC figures show 4,694 drivers called them for breakdowns relating to these issues over the first three months of the year, which is the equivalent of 52 per day – 37 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Potholes in Church Road in Watford

Presenter Adam McLean joined the BBC Breakfast studio team live from Church Road bright and early this morning.

The presenter was joined on a section of road plagued by potholes by Nick Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, and the Observer was also invited along to talk live about some of the pothole issue that affect residents locally.

Speaking about the latest figures published by the RAC, Mr Lyes said: "These figures highlight what is a genuinely ‘uncomfortable truth’ for both road users as well as local and national governments – that in many cases, the condition of many roads is now in a desperate state.

"Back in January we feared the colder winter risked causing further extensive damage to the roads, and it’s clear this is now exactly what has happened. Many drivers are finding themselves having to use roads that in places better resemble the surface of the Moon and, as our figures show, thousands are suffering from unnecessary and, no doubt, costly breakdowns caused by potholes."

Nick Lyes speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning. Credit: BBC

Mr Lyes continued: "In some ways, the quieter roads brought about by national lockdowns could have been an ideal time for councils to start to fix problem road surfaces ready for the arrival of more traffic as restrictions are eased.

"Sadly, our data suggests this may not have been the case and may also suggest many councils are still simply patching up potholes rather than fixing them properly."

Potholes in Church Road

The Watford Observer was invited to talk live in front of BBC Breakfast's national audience this morning. Credit: BBC

Later on in the show, Cycling UK campaign manager Keir Gallagher was also interviewed live from Watford and he spoke about the dangers potholes can have on cyclists.

Data over the last three years or so has shown pothole reports in Hertfordshire are among the highest in the country – but the £35 million Hertfordshire County Council spent in the year 2019/20 on road repairs and works was only beaten by Oxfordshire.

A council spokesperson told the BBC: "In line with good practice, we operate a risk-based approach in dealing with potentially hazardous potholes on our roads.

"We aim to make the most significant potholes safe within 24 hours. The majority of potholes that are large enough to need rapid attention are subject to a first time permanent repair either within five days or within 20 days, depending on factors like the size of the pothole and how busy the road is.

"We’re currently achieving this more than 98 per cent of the time."