Drivers have been asked to nominate their pothole blackspots after the RAC reported a big rise in the number of incidents caused by the defects.

The motoring organisation said it had seen a 24 per cent increase in the number of pothole-related call-outs from October to December.

To mark National Pothole Day today it has called on people to report poor road surfaces through a new app.

What are the worst affected areas in Oxfordshire? Let us know.

It comes after a £1.3m cash injection to deal with road defects was unveiled by the Government last week.

The RAC said it had been called to incidents such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

Chief engineer David Bizley said: "This is a particularly worrying finding because of course much of the country has not experienced harsh winter conditions for three years and rainfall in the fourth quarter of 2016 was the lowest in that period for more than a decade.

"Rain can be the catalyst for the formation of potholes, particularly in the winter when frosts are also common but despite the low rainfall the number of pothole faults attended by RAC in the fourth quarter of 2016 is still higher than in the same period in the two previous years.

“If the first three months of 2017 prove to be both wet and cold, potholes are likely to appear at an unprecedented rate which would inevitably stretch local authority repair resources to their limit.

"While urgent remedial repairs will be needed to reduce the risk of further vehicle damage or injury to road users, including vulnerable motorcyclists and cyclists, it is insufficient investment in preventative maintenance, such as resurfacing, which is ultimately to blame."

The RAC's new Report Pothole app allows people to send in photographs and reports of potholes.