The Government’s cash allocation towards easing Wirral’s pothole misery has been blasted by Labour leader Steve Foulkes, who claimed it was like “putting a small sticking plaster over a gaping wound.”

The Merseyside region will share £3,485,980 of Department of Transport funding with Liverpool getting the lion’s share of £1,058,774. Wirral will receive £625,931.

Cllr Foulkes said: “The Labour Government allocated far more funding following a winter which wasn’t half as bad as the last one which was the worst in living memory for most people.

“Local authorities have been targetted for savage cuts and this is like putting a small sticking plaster over a gaping wound.

"We must now try to get value for a very small amount by making sure the worst areas are repaired first.”

Sefton will get an allocation of £613,026, St Helen’s will receive £484.076; Knowsley £355,731 and Halton £348,440.

But in Liverpool alone the backlog of work is estimated to be around £160m.

The city council’s regeneration and transport cabinet member Cllr Malcolm Kennedy said: “During horrendous winters roads contract and expand and it cracks the surface.

"We end up running fast just to stand still.”

Announcing the funding transport secretary Philip Hammond said: “Millions of motorists across the country have their daily lives ruined by potholes.

"I am determined to see the winter damage to our roads fixed as quickly as possible and we will be working with councils to make sure this happens.”