GARAGES in Knutsford have reported an increase in the number of cars needing repair as a result of being damaged by potholes.

Mike Hulme, from Kirkby Motors, Paradise Garage on Toft Road, said: “I’ve got a car in at the moment with two smashed tyres and wheels.

“A customer told me he reckons they don’t repair them to slow traffic down.

“Leycester Road is bad but Gaskell Avenue is atrocious, it needs a total resurface. The only similar incidents that we saw before was when someone collided into a kerb by accident but now it is potholes.”

Andy Stubbs, from ATS Euromaster, on Malt Street, said five cars had to have tyres replaced last week after hitting potholes in the town.

“One case cost £300 and then there was an Audi, which cost £700 because it damaged the rim as well,” he said.

“We’re getting lots of calls saying ‘I’ve hit a pothole’ and we always advise people to take a picture of it.”

Best Treads on Stanley Road Industrial Estate told the Guardian they had noticed a ‘slight increase’ as a result of the holes and added that many people were complaining about roads on the outskirts of the town, including Over Peover and Plumley.