Council bosses have called on Severn Trent to fix 145 'defective' manhole covers in Stoke-on-Trent.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says the water company is responsible for nearly two-thirds of repair notices it sends to utility companies.

The council says that so far Severn Trent has repaired 33 manhole covers on its wastewater network in the city, with plans to carry out work on a further 29.

A council spokesperson said: "A damaged road surface isn't always a pothole. In many cases, the problem is a defective manhole cover owned by a utility company.

"That's why we recently wrote to Severn Trent demanding action on around 145 defective manholes across the city. They're responsible for almost two-thirds of the repair notices we issue to utility companies.

"We're investing heavily in maintaining and improving our roads, and we expect utility companies to do the same with the infrastructure they own."

The council says that Severn Trent's programme of repairs shows that its intervention is already 'delivering results'.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: "We've completed repairs and replacements to all high priority manhole covers in the Stoke-on-Trent area and are now working through the remaining sites.

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"We'll continue to liaise with Stoke-on-Trent council to keep disruption to a minimum, and we want to thank everyone for their patience as we look to complete these works as soon as possible."