The announcement comes as the Asphalt Industry Alliance reports that the Artic weather seen this winter caused a 40% rise in potholes.

Commenting on the Budget announcement, AA president Edmund King said: 'The AA had campaigned for extra funding to fill the potholes and are delighted that the current pothole plague can be addressed.'

Responding to the comments on road maintenance made in the budget, Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'At least the Chancellor has recognised the problem of potholes, but £100 million for local roads will not go far. Motorists know that many roads are now not fit for purpose and it will need billions rather than millions spent on maintenance to bring our road network back up to standard. The future still looks bleak.'

However BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis, said: 'According to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey, local authorities already have an £800 million shortfall in road maintenance budgets so handing them an extra £100 million is not going to go far.'