NEARLY £3m has been provided to fix potholes and repair roads damaged by the Beast from the East.

The Department for Transport has allocated £2.95 million to Sussex authorities as part of a £100m nationwide fund to repair storm damage.

West Sussex is also one of a handful of authorities getting ringfenced funding for newly-developed road monitoring technology.

The county will get £44,000 to spend on its 'Re-Track' programme.

The £100m fund is intended to help repair almost 2 million potholes nationwide as well as help protect the roads from any future severe weather.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “We have seen an unusually prolonged spell of freezing weather which has caused damage to our local roads.

“We are giving councils even more funding to help repair their roads so all road users can enjoy their journeys without having to dodge potholes.”

“The government is also investing more than £900,000 in innovations using connected vehicles to help councils more efficiently manage and plan maintenance works.

“These trials will ultimately help provide councils with data to enable them to repair potholes before they occur as well as maintain their other assets more effectively as part of their asset management plans.

“This will help prevent further potholes and other road defects occurring over time.”

The government said the money was on top of the £75 million in government funding already given to councils from the Pothole Action Fund this year, as well as the additional £46 million boost for highways authorities announced just before Christmas.

Brighton and Hove will receive just over £188,000. A spokesman for the city council said: “During these challenging times with more demand for council services and reducing resources we welcome any funding to help maintain our roads”

East Sussex County Council has been given £1,177,912. West Sussex County Council has been awarded £1,594,870. A spokesman said the council welcomes the money.