NEW data has revealed how many claims were made to North Ayrshire Council for damage caused to vehicles in the last 12 months.

Information obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has confirmed that 241 claims were made to the council during this period.

Further information was provided which confirmed that of these claims, just eight have been successful.

However, this did not mean that all remaining claims have been unsuccessful with the data stating that this was only the case with 34 of them.

Of these unsuccessful claims, two were not pursued further and one was made to North Ayrshire Council in error.

That meant that of compensation cases brought to the local authority in the past 12 months 196 remain as "open cases", awaiting resolution.

The FOI request response adds that the council has not incurred any solicitors’ costs in the past 12 months as a result of the claims brought to them.

Compensation claims can be brought to North Ayrshire Council for a variety of damages, particularly personal injury or damage to personal belongings where those raising the claim feel the council are responsible for this.

For a claim to be successful it must be proven that 'on the balance of probabilities' the council has been negligent or failed in its statutory duty.

One of the most common reasons for bringing forward such a matter is potholes which have damaged vehicles on roads which the council are responsible for the maintenance of.

Claims are made via an online form available on the council's website.