Just five months after the council said it was winning the war on potholes, the Liberals head office has calculated that the state of many local roads could be causing accidents and traffic jams.

West Berkshire has the eighth worst road conditions in England, and ranks alongside the likes of Somerset, Norfolk, and Slough in the dangerous road league.

The council spends around £4million a year on road repairs, but has committed to spend an extra £11 million over the next three years.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman John Thurso said: "These figures show just how much of England's road network needs urgent repairs.

"The Government must take steps to improve road conditions as poor roads are potentially dangerous for all road users including cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

"Rather than funding costly and often unnecessary road expansion the Government should focus its resources on fixing the nearly 60,000 kilometres."

Last year, Newbury Liberal Democrats made an election pledge to improve on road repairs, and five months ago, council figures revealed that just £20,000 a year is handed out on compensation claims, against£750,000average for other councils.