BLOCKED drains and potholes are still causing problems in Worcestershire, despite staff "doing their best" to clear them.

After complaints about the standard of drains appeared in your Worcester News, Worcestershire county councillor Derek Prodger told people to contact him directly and he would sort out any issues within 10 days.

Following our article, we received four calls from people complaining about drains in Bilford Road and Droitwich Road, Worcester, as well as in Droitwich and Fernhill Heath. Some claimed they had reported the problems previously.

Councillor Prodger said he had a total of seven calls or e-mails about problem drains.

He said: "I had another six calls and one person is waiting for me to call back. Many of the calls are on jobs we already have identifed. There was a backlog. I apologise for that, but people do understand there are substantial pressures out there."

Coun Prodger, cabinet member for the environment, said the county council had borrowed two extra high pressure jetters - machines which help clear drains and gullies.

However, he said water courses were again inundated with water and some areas could not be cleared until recent flooding had receded.

He said: "We accept there's a backlog but we are doing our best to resolve that and when the water goes down we will."

Action has also been taken to rectify problems with potholes which have sprung up on Worcester-shire's roads.

Coun Prodger said: "We've got more guys working out there. We've got 11 gangs doing potholes and ditches. Tybridge Street is now completed and filled. I'd like to do a better job but at least the road is filled. I want to say thank you to those guys who are doing the work.They are doing the best they can. They are working a lot of hours."

The council's highways manager Jon Fraser said eight drain problems reported after our article had now been dealt with.

He said road maintenance crews were diverted from routine maintenance to tackle pothole problems, some of which were caused when water seeped into gaps in the tarmac then froze and expanded.