POTHOLE season appears to be here again with scores of the driving hazards beginning to appear about town.

More and more are being spotted on a daily basis following last month's bad weather.

This week one of our photographers took a quick tour of Crawley and soon found a host of holes around the town.

Particularly treacherous roads included Tilgate Way, Northgate Avenue and Creasys Drive. The holes have left drivers wary of damaging their cars and being left with pricey repair bills.

Mark Lewis, who works in Crawley, said: "I have really noticed a difference driving home through Broadfield since the start of the new year, the roads have become terrible again.

"I try to dodge them, which is not a safe thing to do in the dark, but it's the only choice.

"If you hit one you really feel it and the damage to the car can be expensive."

Scott Thomas, from Langley Green, has had to shell out in the past because of potholes.

He said: "Potholes in Crawley have cost me a tyre in each of the last two years, with each one costing £80.

"I wrote to the council to complain and they said they would be filling them in but it just isn't good enough, they should be acting before it gets this bad."

West Sussex County Council had to pay out an extra £2.4 million towards highways maintenance last year as roads started to crumble in the poor weather.

Now cracks and holes are appearing again, just as happened in February 2010.

Lionel Barnard, the county council's deputy leader, said: "During the 2010/11 financial year we have invested £15 million in permanent road repairs including resurfacing, deep patching and surface dressing.

"As we experience another severe winter it is unfortunately inevitable that potholes will appear on our roads."

A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that in Crawley between July 2009 and June 2010 potholes led to broken bones, a chipped skull and nearly £2,000 in compensation being paid.

However, a county council spokeswoman said the council is putting road maintenance at the top of its priority list.

She said: "West Sussex County Council does not plan to reduce spend in road maintenance, despite the current pressures on its budgets.

"Once a pothole is reported to us we aim to repair it within 28 days – and for urgent defects on A and B roads within three working days.

"Where possible permanent repairs are made but many repairs will be temporary in order to make the road safe as quickly as possible."

Anyone who spots a pothole is asked to report it to the council by calling 01243 642105.