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A pair of boroughs in north London have been revealed as the two areas where roads are in most need of maintenance, according to new data.

The Department for Transport revealed that 20 per cent of principal roads in Haringey and 17 per cent in Camden are in need of repair.

Oldham, Greater Manchester and Reading, Berkshire also had poorly maintained roads, with 14 per cent requiring work.

On the whole, councils have failed to improve their road maintenance in the three-year period between 2008 and 2011.

Some 89 councils responded to Department for Transport to provide data and 38 per cent registered minor road deterioration in 2010/11 while only 24 per cent reported improvements.

The figure is even worse for main roads, with the number deteriorating rising to 40 per cent and only 21 per cent improving.

"Poor road conditions damage vehicles, and are especially dangerous to cyclists and motorcyclists who can be easily thrown off course by potholes. They also put all road users at risk, as drivers take evasive action to avoid hitting them," said the Institute of Advanced Motorists' director of policy and research Neil Greig.