Just over three per cent of local motorists who seek compensation payments for pothole damage to their cars are successful in their claims.

North Ayrshire Council received 63 insurance claims relating to potholes in 2013/14, but only two of these were successful (3.2% of claims) - costing the council £318.60. However, it is an improvement on the previous year, when only two out of 76 claims were successful.

Neighbours Inverclyde Council, by contrast, paid out on 38 of the 127 claims made last year, while East Ayrshire Council accepted 14 of the 69 claims made against it.

The figures were released by the RAC Foundation, whose report stated that only 23% of claims were successful across the UK with a total payout of £3.2 million in 2013/14.

North Ayrshire Council have previously defended the low rate - explaining that many councils have different policies and criteria, making it difficult to compare like-for-like.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “These figures are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Many drivers will be put off by the time involved in claiming against a council, and many councils do their best to deter claimants coming forward. But the fundamental problem lies not at the doors of our town halls but with central government. Despite occasional one-off grants related to periods of harsh weather, they are simply not giving councils enough money for roads.

“Worn out road surfaces do not simply cause damage to vehicles, they are also potentially lethal, particularly for two-wheeled road users.”