A budget boost of £6.4m has been made available to spend on fixing and maintaining Norfolk's roads - after councils made a plea for more cash to sort out potholes.

Leaders at Norfolk County Council say they will decide how to use the extra cash announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget in the coming weeks.

Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure at the Conservative-controlled council, said: "More than £6m of additional funding to invest in our county’s road network is very welcome and we’ll consider over the coming weeks how we can put this to best use."

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructureGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Jamie Honeywood Archant Norwich Norfolk)

The chancellor had been urged to provide authorities like Norfolk County Council with extra funding to help tackle maintenance backlogs on roads.

County Hall bosses have previously raised concerns that it would cost £57.4m to tackle the backlog of repairs and maintenance needed on Norfolk's roads.

That figure is how much it would cost the council to get roads and bridges up to the standards they should be in.

Eastern Daily Press: Extra cash could help fix potholesExtra cash could help fix potholes

The council's budget for patching and potholes increased from £7.5m in 2022/23 to £8.2m in 2023/24.

READ MORE: £100k compensation payouts due to Norfolk potholes and pavements

But Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said: “The money for potholes looks like another round of filling in when our roads are already turning into a jigsaw puzzle of patched-up holes rather than having proper repairs."

Eastern Daily Press: Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County CouncilSteve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Denise Bradley)

And Green county councillor Jamie Osborn said: "There’s money for potholes, which is needed, but the county council cannot sit waiting for the government to pass down the money for the Western Link, they need to reprioritise and focus on investment that will bring benefits now."

Eastern Daily Press: Green county councillor Jamie OsbornGreen county councillor Jamie Osborn (Image: Jamie Osborn)

The council is waiting to learn if the government will approve the business case for the Norwich Westerrn Link and bankroll 85pc of its £251m cost.