The Department for Infrastructure said the surge in repairs followed extra money allocated through the Winter Recovery Road Fund, with teams focusing on potholes and other defects on local roads.

Minister Liz Kimmins said: "The damage caused to our roads by prolonged bad weather at the beginning of the year is well documented and I established the Winter Recovery Road Fund to specifically address the areas which were worst affected.

"Following my announcement of additional funding, crews have been out working hard to repair potholes and other road defects and now the figures speak for themselves, with 10,000 repairs completed in eight weeks. "We all use our roads and even the smallest repair can have a big impact when it comes to better journeys for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

"We are not complacent and there is still much to do because the overall condition of the network has suffered because of years of underfunding by the British Government. However, I am pleased that the money I ringfenced at the beginning of the year for road repairs is making a real and tangible difference across the North."

The Minister's draft Road Maintenance Strategy sets out a shift to high-quality, targeted and sustainable interventions, using modern technology to direct investment where it is needed most and to enable smarter maintenance decisions.

It also aims to future-proof the network to meet changing societal needs, including active travel, reduce the carbon footprint of operations and strengthen resilience after adverse weather events.