To coincide with the news that the Government has made an additional £200 million available for councils to deal with the millions of potholes on UK roads, Rocester-based JCB has launched a digger that can “permanently fix” the problem.

The Pothole Master, which can travel at 40kph, has an attachment at the rear called a patch planer (pictured) that is equipped with 45 steel teeth to grind away the surface of the pothole and the surrounding road. The digger then uses a large ‘collector’ to pick up the resulting debris. With these tasks completed, tarmac is used to effect a permanent repair of the pothole.

Yvette Henshall-Bell, JCB director (back-hoe loader growth), said: “We’ve had a team of engineers working closely with the highways industry for the past six months, to ensure that we develop products the sector wants and needs. Potholes are a huge issue for UK motorists, but many of the repairs are nothing more than ‘sticking plaster’ solutions. With the JCB Pothole Master, we are offering a cost-effective, permanent solution for fixing potholes in an attempt to help rid Britain of this menace.”