Potholes in the roads of Sussex are costing local authorities thousands of pounds in compensation to drivers and pedestrians.

Since October last year, West Sussex County Council has forked out £4,200 to 293 people for damage to cars and possessions.

One common type of payout is for spectacles broken after a pedestrian has tripped over a pothole.

The council's bill for compensation was even higher between 2000 and 2001.

That year, 728 motorists and pedestrians received £43,500 in compensation because flooding and frost caused more damage to roads and paths.

In East Sussex, an average of 300 to 350 claims are submitted every year.

Since April this year, the county council has paid more than £19,000 following 29 claims.

Brighton and Hove City Council paid £403 to 14 motorists between April 2001 and April 2002.

Since April 1997, it has paid a total of £7,819 to 54 people.

Rebecca Rees, AA spokeswoman for the South-East, said its own research revealed 83 per cent of motorists in the South believed the state of roads in the region had worsened with more potholes, cracks in the road and other damage.

She said: "People are more aware they can put a claim in now. They are paying all this road tax and not getting a lot in return."

She said potholes could cause a puncture, affect the handling, steering or suspension of a car or damage its wheels.

Staff at most local authorities carry out routine checks on roads and paths to find danger spots.

West Sussex County Council has a budget of £5 million for road maintenance and £1 million for winter maintenance.

A council spokeswoman said: "If they come across a dangerous pothole, it will be fixed the next working day.

"If it is a developing pothole, it will be put on schedule as part of routine maintenance."

Brighton and Hove City Council spends a total of £5 million on road maintenance and repairs.

A council spokeswoman said: "There are no particular blackspots. All our highways are routinely inspected and repaired when potholes are found.

"More strategic long-term maintenance programmes tackle the problem before potholes become prevalent."

A spokeswoman for East Sussex County Council said it had been concerned for some time about the number of insurance claims from the public.

She said: "In 2000, the council undertook a scrutiny review of the relationship between road and pavement maintenance and accident claims.

"The outcome, not surprisingly, was a recommendation that more money be put into road maintenance."

The council spends more than £3 million a year on repairs to potholes, footpaths, sign damage, railings and grass verges.