DAVID Cameron has praised the county council’s efforts to tackle potholes as he doubled a cash boost for road repairs.

The Prime Minister’s speech came after £2.28m of funding announced during March’s budget was increased to £4.9m because of the council’s ‘exemplary’ work to tackle problem roads.

The money will allow county council to fix around 92,000 potholes in Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Chorley.

However the move has been described as a ‘ploy’ by one East Lancashire MP.

Mr Cameron said: “Lancashire has shown it is one of the leading areas in its determination to beat potholes, and is receiving extra cash as a result.

“Potholes damage cars, motorbikes and cycles, and cost hardworking people money for repairs. Helping fill in potholes is helping hardworking families and we need to do more of it.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council will receive £283,423 – enough to repair around 5,000 potholes.

Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones said: “We are getting £5m for potholes but far more than that has been taken away from the area.

“Lancashire County Council has got to make another £300m of cuts, so to give £5m back as though it’s a reward or the government is doing the county a favour is a bit cheeky.

“Why not just cut £295m instead? It’s a ploy.”

Rossendale MP Jake Berry said: “Following our successful pothole patrol project in Rossendale, I have been lobbying the Prime Minister to ensure Lancashire gets the investment it needs to improve our appalling roads. I’m delighted we have got this new money.”

Director of environment at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Sayyed Osman, said: “The council has bid for pothole funding from the Department of Transport and as yet, we have not had confirmation about whether it has been approved.”