NEWTON Abbot was mentioned in the House of Commons during Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget statement following an appeal for funding to fill in pot holes.

MP Anne Marie Morris’ constituency came in for a name-check during the speech as he announced an additional £200 million for repairs to potholes.

The announcement came just days after Newton Abbot councillor Mike Joyce complained about the state of the roads.

He had highlighted particular problems in Torquay Road and had complained twice to the highways authority.

He said: ‘Some of the potholes are so big you almost feel like you could swim in them!’

During his speech announcing funding to improve local transport infrastructure, Mr Hunt said he would be giving the extra cash for potholes on top of £500m a year already promised.

To cheers around the chamber, he went on to say: ‘Following a wet then cold winter, I have also received particularly strong representations from my honourable colleagues in North Devon and Newton Abbot about the curse or potholes.’