WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for road maintenance says he does not underestimate the extent of the work needing to be done.

Conservative councillor, Derek Prodger, said progress was being made but more funds were needed in addition to the extra £15 million allocated for the repair of residential roads in the county.

He added that Wyre Forest was not being badly treated, with £2.9 million out of the £15 million to be spent in the area.

He said: "I don't underestimate the work we have to do but we have made a lot of headway. The work, meanwhile, will carry on."

He added: "We have to consider putting a lot more money into highways. The £15 million won't solve all the problems but it will make a good start."

Mr Prodger described the state of roads in Franche, Kidderminster, as "poor" before repair work was carried out over the last month.

David Hunter, the council's highways liaison engineer, added that most urban residential parts of Wyre Forest would be targeted for resurfacing in the same way.

He said the new surface would be as good as putting in a new road and would last for 20 years, freeing up more funds in the long term.

Mr Prodger said: "I think Franche looks in good shape now and this is indicative of the work which will be done across the county."

He added: "You always hear people complain about the work done on the roads but you can't make any complaints about the work done here."

"We have good engineers and good contractors, as this work demonstrates. If the council gives us the money we can do a good job."

Mr Hunter added: "The money we have been given is a start. We have a long way to go but £15 million is a very welcome boost to our resources."

Mr Prodger explained that the flooding in December and January had been a "headache" and with the frost that followed had led to many jobs having to be repeated.

He said: "At one stage we had 11 gangs out just dealing with potholes. There was a big backlog but we are getting through the work."

He explained there was no additional funding for repairs to rural roads but said the maintenance budget had not been reduced and would help address the problems with those roads.

Mr Hunter added that, "in general", A, B and C roads were kept "very safe", with roads inspected regularly and defects repaired "very quickly".