RUTTED roads and potholes are a top priority for Wiltshire’s highways department – and they say they have the money to deal with the issue.

Many roads are in a poor state following unprecedented rainfall over the winter.

At the council’s Tidworth Area Board meeting highways officer Peter Binley said: “There has been a significant amount of water damage over the winter – when the groundwater level rises too high it wrecks the roads.

“It will take us time to get on top of it but we have the money to do it.”

The council plans to spend £21m per year repairing the county’s roads over the next six years – way above the level of £9m provided via government grants.