Medway is set to receive £2.5m a year to tackle potholes and improve local roads the Department for Transport has announced.

The funding is part of a £778 million investment in the South East between 2015 and 2021.

The DfT says it is the first time councils have been given locked-in funding over this length of time, which will help them plan ahead and save money for the taxpayer.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Roads play a significant part in everyday life. Poorly maintained local roads, blighted by potholes, are a menace to all road users.

“The funding will put an end to short term fixes and will mean we have committed
£10 billion between 2010 and 2021."

Medway will receive around £2.5m a year until 2021, £13m in total. Kent County Council will get an average of £23m a year, a total of £142m.

The DfT allocates funding to local authorities based on local need, so councils with larger highway networks receive more of the funding.

A previous version of this story contained incorrect figures, we apologise for this error.