Potholes considered dangerous are to be tackled by Harrow Council over the coming months as it splashes the cash to address a pet hate for motorists.

More than £500,000 of additional funding is to be set aside for the repairs project in which the Conservative-led authority hopes to tackle the most worn out roads in the borough.

Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), leader of the council and cabinet member for environment, said: “Ask any councillor to list the top three things residents contact them about, and problem potholes will always be one of them.

“Not only are potholes dangerous, they’re also an eyesore, so we’re very pleased we’ve managed to identify this additional funding – and that we’re receiving even more support from the government.

“The past winter was particularly bad for our roads because of how wet it was; lots of rain and regular frost creates new potholes and makes existing ones even worse.

“This is unfortunate because, like many councils, Harrow already has a backlog to tackle, but every amount of funding we can use to help repair potholes is most welcome.”

The council’s budget agreed in March allocates £5.5million of capital funding to highways maintenance and the Tory-run authority said it has earmarked an extra £150,000 of investment by underspending on other projects. It is to receive a further £368,000 from a Department for Transport pot for road repairs which was set up in response to the harsh winter weather.

But even more could be spent because the Government announced this week an additional £168million fund specifically for potholes is available for town halls to bid for.

Councillor David Perry, leader of the Labour group, said: “With such a huge amount of funding being found in the council budgets just two weeks before an election seems very ironic from the Conservatives.

“Yet again we see politics being played at oppotune moments when this funding was actually found in February and this programme has now been delayed for political reasons.

“However, the Labour group positively welcome any announcement of additional funding for the backlog of potholes in Harrow.”