BADLY-maintained roads irritate all drivers and Government statistics have now revealed how many miles of Bradford’s highways are in need of repair.

But the figure might surprise motorists - Department for Transport inspectors concluded that just three miles of the district’s A roads need maintenance.

The road examinations were carried out by scanner machines and, in some cases, officers, who looked for worn sections of road.

The roads judged to be in a state of disrepair have not been named.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are investing record amounts to improve our roads to link people with jobs, families and services.

“These statistics show that our investment is making a difference, with fewer key roads needing maintenance than 10 years ago.”

But driving instructor Ayub Khan said he was shocked by the figures.

He said: “I know the council is struggling with costs but we get these massive potholes that damage our cars. I’m fixing the suspension in my car and it’s only two years old. I drive at a reasonable speed. I beg to differ with the Government. Every single road here has potholes.”

He pointed to a large pothole on Ingleby Road near Wickes as an example of one of the areas where roads are in a poor state.

Shabbir Master, of the Hackney Carriage Owners and Drivers Association, also criticised the research.

He said: “The Department for Transport inspectors need spectacles. They need to look at what we see - it’s more than three miles. There are roads that are disgusting and it’s taking its toll on maintaining our cars. It really does have an impact.

“They need to get it sorted out, we are all paying road tax - I pay £240 a year. I would love to know where that money’s going.

“And I wouldn’t say that Bradford is the only place that needs this sorting out.”

He said cabbies have complaints about many of the district’s main roads and are shelling out for repairs to their vehicles.

The data from the Department for Transport also showed that five per cent of B and C roads were likely to be in need of repair works and nine per cent of unclassified roads need maintenance. But the figures reveal that road conditions have improved since they were inspected five years ago, when five per cent of Bradford’s A roads needed repairs.

The figures are based on road inspections carried out in the 12 months up to March 2017.

The council was approached for comment.