Last year, Mechanical insurance provider, Warranty Direct estimated that British motorists paid out £320 million in repairs to everything from wheels and tyres to suspension failure. 'That figure could pail into insignificance,' said the firm's Duncan McClure Fisher.

Road maintenance campaign website, Potholes.co.uk, has already seen a 100% increase in web traffic during last week’s nationwide blanketing of snow, with twice as many visitors as the same week in 2009.

Mr McClure Fisher added: 'The roads are going to deteriorate incredibly quickly over the coming months. Given the severity and earlier than normal arrival of harsh wintry conditions, everything is pointing towards a miserable period for motorists.'

Spending cuts will also impact the issue. 'Local councils and Central Government have a duty of care to maintain the roads of Britain. Yet, with the extended period of cold weather and councils trimming budgets across the country, it’s hard to see how they will be able to tackle what points towards being the worst ever pothole season,' concluded Mr McClure Fisher.