The Alliance Party has called on Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard to "do some work" and invest in roads in the Newtownards and Strangford areas, Co Down.

Alliance Cllr Kellie Armstrong accused Mr Hazzard of taking credit for the work of previous Ministers and urged him to invest in the "dreadful state of the rural roads around the Peninsula".

She sid: "Locals complain that yellow markings on the road were sprayed so long ago that they are wearing away.

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"The Minister and the Department are congratulating themselves on a job completed last year on the main commuter roads. There is no urgency within the Department to address the ongoing issue of potholes and collapsing road edges in rural areas.

"The Department has confirmed that over £17,000 was paid out in claims for vehicle damage in North Down and Ards last year. The Minister should think long and hard about road safety, part of his responsibility, and how poor road conditions are already damaging vehicles. None of us want poor road conditions to be a contributing factor in a road death."

(CD/MH)