COMPLAINTS about Inverclyde's A8 and A78 trunk roads have more than doubled in the space of four years.

The Telegraph has obtained data under freedom of information laws revealing that the number of reports about two of the area's key transport links is on the rise.

From 2014 up to July this year, a combined 632 complaints were made about the sections of the two trunk roads that run through Inverclyde - almost one every three days.

Issues range from potholes and faulty traffic lights to missing manhole covers, blocked gullies, flooding and dead animals obstructing carriageways.

Both roads are managed by Scotland TranServ on behalf of government agency, Transport Scotland.

Since 2014, there have been more problems reported about the A78 - a total of 359 - than the A8 at 273.

The figure for both roads peaked last year.

In 2018, there were 88 complaints about the A8 - almost three-times the 30 recorded four years earlier.

A total of 79 grievances were lodged about the A78 in 2018, which is double the figure of 32 logged in 2014.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "We fully recognise the importance of a safe and reliable trunk road network and the overall budget for maintenance for the roads we look after has increased by over £33 million to £467m in 2019/20.

"Between 2013/14 and 2018/19, we spent more than £4.8m and £25.5m on the maintaining and upgrading the A8 and A78, respectively.

"Our operating company, Scotland TranServ, has a robust and established process for monitoring the conditions of trunk roads through inspections and testing, and we fully fund the inspection and repair of defects."

The A8 links Inverclyde to the M8 motorway and runs from Langbank right down to the Bullring Roundabout in Greenock.

From there, it meets the A78 at High Street, which continues through down towards Inverkip, Wemyss Bay and into North Ayrshire.

Other complaints made about the main roads included out of sequence traffic lights, debris on carriageways, fuel spillages and overgrown verges.

One of the most common problems was potholes, along with the general condition of carriageway surfaces.

A Scotland TranServ spokesperson said: "Scotland TranServ continuously monitors the condition of both the A8 and A78. "We also work with our customers to address their issues within the network including road surface, lighting, traffic lights, road lining, signage and vegetation issues, with our work prioritised accordingly. "These routes have received significant investment in recent years, and will continue to be a focus, with a number of resurfacing and routine maintenance projects planned for the months ahead."

A large proportion of complaints were made by members of the public but there were also issues reported by the likes of Inverclyde Council, the police and bus operators McGill's.