Nearly £60m is to be saved this year by Surrey County Council - almost the equivalent of the road maintenance budget for two years.

Annual figures are expected to show the savings target set out at the start of 2011/12 have been hit.

This news leaves the authority on track to save £330m by 2016.

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said: "Value for money is at the heart of every decision the council makes.

"By finding ways of doing things more efficiently and working as one team with other councils and organisations, we're ensuring taxpayers money goes further while continuing to provide excellent services to Surrey's residents.

"A lot has been achieved but more needs to be done as we seek to realise our ambition of becoming the best local authority in the country.

"It means carrying on with our with out Public Value Reviews to ensure the best and most efficient services, continuing to find innovative ways to do more for less and working with other public services as one team in Surrey's best interests."