HUNDREDS of potholes are to be plugged and cracks sealed on Cheshire's roads as the council has begun an extensive road resurfacing programme.

Now warmer weather has finally arrived in the area, the council's highways department will be treating the equivalent of 130 sq km of road surface with a micro asphalt surface treatment.

The treatment is a road maintenance process which involves laying a thin layer over the top of the existing road to seal the surface and restore grip, extending the active lifespan of the road by about five to seven years.

The council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Karen Shore, said: "Undertaking regular and timely maintenance of roads using surface treatments such as micro asphalt is a far more sustainable and cost effective approach as it extends the service life of a road, rather than allowing roads to deteriorate to a poor condition requiring more costly intervention."

Micro asphalt cures quickly and can usually be driven on less than an hour after application. Its ability to reshape and re-profile existing surfaces ensures minor defects, such as small potholes and cracks, are sealed to stop water getting in to cause further damage.

It has a much-reduced environmental impact compared to standard resurfacing techniques as it is a non-polluting, cold-applied, zero-emissions material.