Plans to create "congestion tsars" have been rejected by MPs.

The idea to appoint traffic managers in major cities has been criticised by a cross-party Commons committee on Wednesday.

The transport committee argued that the expertise needed to make the idea work does not exist.

In its report into Britain's roads, the MPs described the complexities of the role as "staggering".

"The idea of tasking someone with the job of keeping the traffic moving may sound politically appealing but it runs the risk of compromising safety and environmental objectives," the committee warned.

Decades of under-funding are now causing serious problems, the MPs warned, largely due to the lack of expertise to deal with many key issues.

"A staggering 30 per cent of all money provided for maintenance goes on temporary patch and mend solutions," they said.

"Yet more money is paid out in insurance and damage claims from people killed or injured as a result of poorly maintained roads, paths and street lights."

The government's 10-year plan had halted the decline in local roads, the committee concluded.

But it warned that the policy would have to focus on long-lasting, well-lit roads if it was to make a long-term difference.

Central government was also urged to increase control over local authorities which had been forced to "raid" road budgets to fund other priorities.

"Ultimately this may mean ring fencing road maintenance budgets until targets are met," said the MPs.