AN astonishing 40,000 potholes have been filled in by Kirklees Council since 2006.

But although the council filled in 19,000 holes in 2007 they had 17,000 requests from utility companies to dig up the roads.

The figures emerged as a survey showed that one million potholes are causing misery for motorists nationally.

The research also reveals that there are three million holes on local authority roads, with more than two thirds of them caused by utility companies carrying out work.

The council has now vowed to tackle the bumpy problems on the boroughs roads.

Mark Dobson, from Kirklees Highways department, said that Kirklees Council has filled in around 40,000 holes since 2006.

Mr Dobson said: “We deal with potholes on a reactive basis.

“We respond to reports from members of the public and we inspect the roads on a cycle.

“Kirklees get money from the Government and supplement that with Kirklees money which we are pushing into a road resurfacing programme.

“We are one year into a five year programme of road repairs.

“It is an ongoing programme and one of a number of strategies we are working on.”

In 2006 Kirklees Council filled in 21,000 holes with a further 19,000 filled in 2007.

But they have also received a high number of requests by utility companies wanting to dig the roads, with 18,000 in 2006 and 17,000 in 2007.

Mr Dobson added: “Whenever a utility company wants to dig they have to inform us.

“Whenever we do road work we get a 12 month protection order for the work.

“The utility companies can only go in in an emergency during that time, but after the 12 months has ended they can go in and dig it up.”

Experts predict that local authorities have a shortfall of more than £1bn in road maintenance budgets to complete the work.

Brian Hollingworth, Huddersfield’s self-dubbed Yellow Pimpernel, crept round the borough highlighting potholes with yellow spray paint.

It has been more than a year since he threw the spray can away, but he still keeps an eye on the state of the roads.

Mr Hollingworth, 70, of Salendine Nook, said: “Twelve months ago when I was at the Highways department I said to them “I don’t think you have enough money to do the roads” and that is the problem.

“The repairs they have done, which haven’t been messed up by the utility companies, have been very good.

“But they can’t do anymore because they simply don’t have the funds to do it.

“Some of these potholes are six to nine inches deep and they do need sorting, but they need doing properly.

“I’d like to think now we’ve got more money that we will see some improvements, but it is one thing saying it and another doing it.

“I really do hope they get on with the work and get it done.”

Statistics from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) reveal that there is an average of 4,268 potholes in each local authority area.

Chairman Jim Crick said: “Roads are a vital asset.

“We all depend on them every day and it’s time the under-funding of their maintenance was addressed. There are so many demands on highways maintenance budgets now that it is almost impossible to keep pace with them.”