NEIGHBOURING counties in North East Wales are among the best and worst for road conditions in the country, according to figures.

The BBC's shared data unit has analysed transport information to find out the extent of Britain's poorly maintained roads - which can cause damage to vehicles and present serious dangers to cyclists.

According to the study, Wrexham local authority area is among the locations with the highest proportion of poor condition roads in Wales at 14.2 per cent - as an average over six years.

However neighbouring Flintshire is the area with the lowest proportion of poor quality roads in Wales with just five per cent.

For Wales in 2016-17, around 10 per cent of all of its roads were deemed in poor condition, which works out at 3,110 km.

A Flintshire Council spokesman told the Leader: "Flintshire County Council works hard to maintain and promote an effective transport network for the daily use of residents and visitors to the county.

"Staff from the council undertake regular condition surveys on the highway network to ensure that our roads are kept at a high standard and as free from defects as possible.

"Although the council has one of the lowest proportion of ‘poor condition roads’ in Wales, the recent weather conditions have impacted heavily on the current condition of the road network but we are continuing to prioritise repairs to limit the effect to road users.

"Anyone wishing to report a pothole can do so by contacting the Streetscene Contact Centre on 01352 701234."

Councillor Carolyn Thomas, cabinet member for streetscene and transportation at Flintshire Council, said: "Austerity continues to affect the county’s budgets, however the efforts of the staff and operatives to maintain the highway network in the most cost effective and efficient manner has ensured that our network is recognised as one of the best in Wales.”

Councillor David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport at Wrexham Council, said: “It is important when considering the condition of infrastructure assets that comparisons are made on a like for like basis taking.

"This must consider the many variables that contribute to the rate of deterioration including historic level of investment, local priorities and demographics.

"A closer inspection of Wrexham’s carriageway condition surveys highlight that for the strategic A and B road network, generally those roads of significant importance to ensuring the economic prosperity and success of an area, the results highlight excellent performance and some of the best in Wales.

"Only 2.4 per cent of the A and B road classified network have been categorised as being in overall poor condition and despite significant pressures on already limited resources, this figure has remained static.

“The challenge for Wrexham is to try and sustain this performance whilst looking to address those lower category roads which are overall in a poorer condition.

"Condition survey statistics have shown an improving trend in recent years in the C class and unclassified road network.

"Wrexham will continue, despite reducing availability of funding, to apply the best asset management principles in the maintenance of maintain the road network infrastructure, investing its limited resources in those strategically important elements of the road network that will help drive and stimulate the economy of Wrexham and make every effort to provide a safe and resilient road network for the travelling public.”

Wrexham resident Dave Jones, who lives in off Glyndwr Road, said NASA could use his street to practice the moon landings and a taxi driver refused to drop off his neighbour because the road was too badly damaged.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The Welsh Government has responsibility only for the trunk road network in Wales, which is regularly inspected and any safety related defects addressed.

"It is for local authorities to determine how best to ensure subsidiary roads remain in the best possible condition.

“In February the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services Alun Davies announced £30m for councils in Wales to improve the state of roads in their areas.”

A Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson said: “Clearly, local authorities would like to achieve a high standard on all the roads for which they are responsible (Welsh Government is responsible for motorways and the trunk road network).

"The network, as with many capital assets, experiences constant wear and tear and is exposed to a range of challenging weather conditions.

"The freeze-thaw process in the winter causes particular problems, resulting in pothole formation. "If these are not addressed then they gradually become worse. Local authorities’ ability to address this has been reduced as a result of ongoing cuts to budgets."