A council has been accused of dodging its responsibility to compensate pothole-hit motorists.

Arctic weather conditions in January and February saw tens of thousands of potholes created in the county’s crumbling roads.

But despite drivers submitting claims for potentially millions of pounds, Brighton and Hove City Council – which is making at least £45 million of cuts in the next three years - has not parted with a single penny.

Motorists are fuming they are being left to foot the bill for their damaged cars.

Gary Tucker, of Saltdean, Brighton, was one of 30 drivers whose vehicles were damaged when part of the A259 between Rottingdean and Brighton collapsed in February during the Big Freeze.

His claim for £700, which included missing a number of days of work and having to pay for a new tyre, was rejected by the council last week.

Mr Tucker, who works as a dispensary optician, said: “I cannot believe it. They told me they were not in breech of anything.

“But they are the ones who were negligent. They are ones who have not looked after the local roads.

“Everybody, including Sussex Police, was telling me not to worry as I would get it back.

“I was not expecting all of the money back but even half would have been nice to get half as a gesture.”

The city council said it had received 99 claims against liability cover for damage to vehicles by potholes since December.

A council spokeswoman said: “We are not aware of any claims that have been successful but some are still outstanding.

“For a claim to be successful, the claimant would need to prove that the council had been negligent in some way and that this had let to the damage.”

She added because the local authority operated a “reasonable” inspection regime and efforts were made to repair reported defects, it is not considered liable for any damage caused. In February the council said the stretch of road along the A259 had been repaired in January.