A programme of surface dressing and road repairs are getting underway in Aberdeenshire.

A major effort is being made to tackle potholes and other road defects in villages, towns and rural communities across the region.

Last year's roads maintenance programme was suspended as frontline staff were redeployed to support critical services such as household waste collections and burials during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During that time, the public has continued to provide important information around potholes and emerging issues with the road network condition which the council has been carefully categorising depending on the severity of the defect. Those posing an immediate danger to the public are inspected and actioned within 24 hours.

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The lengthy spell of wintry weather also brought a range of challenges across Aberdeenshire, with an increasing number of emerging issues with the road network condition being reported.

Cllr Peter Argyle, Chair of the Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, said: "We have all felt the challenges around the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact has been particularly felt by our Roads colleagues – many of whom were redeployed last year to support vital services such as waste collections and burials. We fully acknowledge that our roads maintenance programme was significantly hampered and that there have been more reports of potholes and other surface defects requiring attention.

"We are investing additional revenue to carry out these critical repairs during the summer, but it will take longer to complete. I would urge all motorists to please be patient as we undertake the very repairs you have quite rightly demanded and above all, please be respectful of our roads crews who are undertaking that vital work on your behalf."