A NEW weapon against the plague of potholes has been unveiled in a bid to improve conditions for drivers and cyclists.

The Guardian has been inundated with letters from motorists complaining that the pitted roads of Cheshire East were having a damaging effect on their vehicles – as well as their wallets.

Now a new method of pothole repair, called ‘velocity patching’, is due to begin in earnest after initial trials in Nantwich produced positive results.

The system blasts the pothole with air to force out dirt and water before forcing a bitumen emulsion bond coat into each crack.

Chippings are then fired at speed through a bitumen spray into the pothole.

The council say that because the chippings are individually bitumen coated helps create a stronger bond than through other pothole repair methods.

They add that the system will allow more potholes to be fixed more quickly at a cheaper cost to taxpayers.

Two velocity patchers operate through Cheshire East. One is slightly smaller and better suited to urban locations.

Clr Rod Menlove, cabinet member in charge of environmental services, said: “Decades of underfunding, coupled with severe winters, general wear and tear and the recent heavy flooding has meant the standard of our roads is not what it should be.

“Velocity patching is one of the innovative techniques we are adopting to remedy the situation. It will allow us to repair more potholes in less time and that can only be a good thing for Cheshire East residents.

“The machines will be targeting some of the worst roads in the borough, and will be used to rectify problem areas identified through our Local Area Partnerships and local residents.”