HIGHWAYS bosses last night dismissed a new report which claims rural roads in the region are being "left to rot" through under-funding.

A survey by the Asphalt Industry Association (AIA) concludes that budget restraints are leaving country routes in a poor condition and posing a threat to rural economies.

The study says a shortfall of £9m per shire council means that local highways departments receive less than half of what they need to maintain their roads properly.

But while bosses at Durham County Council, which has spent £81m on maintenance in the past five years, accepted there are problems, they disputed the findings.

A spokesman said all roads in the county suffer from under-funding, but insisted the deterioration has been halted and the overall condition of the routes is improving.

"The repairs backlog we have extends to both our lower category urban and rural roads," said the spokesman.

"We are having to apply our existing level of resources as best we can, and have been able to achieve significant improvements to our principal road network.

"Clearly though, the level of improvements we are able to carry out is determined by the resources we have at our disposal."

The survey reveals that budget restraints mean that rural local authorities plan, on average, to resurface some country roads only every 86 years - compared with the recommended maximum of 20 years.

It also shows that the need for structural maintenance on rural roads had increased by 75 per cent over the past ten years.

Also, highways engineers in rural local authorities say that, even if they were given all the funds they need, it would take them more than 12 years to clear the backlog of maintenance.

AIA chairman Jim Crick said: ''There appears to be an insidious attitude that rural roads and their condition matter less than roads in more built-up areas."