Surrey highways chiefs have said their teams' efforts are to be focused on flood prevention work as the region continues to be hit by severe weather.

The county council said that along with the Army, Surrey's boroughs and districts and the county’s highways contractor Kier Services, its roads teams have filled and distributed 15,000 sandbags and fixed 1,200 potholes since the latest floods hit.

The council said it has also cleared 76 trees and attended 148 call-outs to flooded roads in the same period.

Announcing that some planned non-urgent highways works would “pause” because flood prevention work was now the main focus, Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said they are directing their efforts to tackling flooding affecting residents and key roads.

Speaking at a meeting of the Full Council, Coun Hodge said: “Our highways teams will continue to work round the clock with the main focus on tackling the effects of flooding, clearing roads and fallen trees, but all essential work across the county will continue as normal.”

A county council spokesman said the floods have continued to affect highways and crews are busy clearing roads, repairing potholes and replacing manhole covers, as the weather takes its toll on the region. The council has estimated that the floods repair bill to fix Surrey’s roads and bridges will hit £6 million.