AN extra 6m is to be spent on improving Worcestershire pavements, the county council has pledged.

The amount is in addition to the £5m already set aside annually by Worcestershire County Council for refurbishment works.

The £6m will be used over two years, meaning the work will be due for completion in 2019.

Over the past five years the county council said it has spoken to more than 55,000 people, with local roads and pavements featuring as a top priority for residents.

Cllr Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "£6m extra - the county council has to improve our pavements, that will buy us an 50 miles extra in improved pavements - that is the distance from Worcester to Oxford.

"The residents of Worcester are concerned with condition of the pavements, there is also the safety aspect as there's a lot of elderly people.

"People told us this is what they want and we will do it.

"We know that pavements and roads are important to our residents because they consistently tell us.

"We hope these improvements will also encourage more people to walk more often and adopt a more healthy and active lifestyle which in turn could help to cut congestion, reduce journey times and improve our health and wellbeing."

He added: "We want our pavements to be in the top quarter in the country - this work will ensure we are one of the top - if not best in the country."

The scheme was launched on Friday, August 18 in York Place, Worcester, where the council is currently undertaking an extensive project, which is part of the ongoing programme to improve pavements across the county.

The scheme is expected to be completed in mid-September.

Works involve removing old concrete foot ways and cast kerbing and replacing them with conservation kerbing and small concrete slabs.

This innovative solution ensures that when future utilities works take place, the whole slab can be dug up and replaced rather than leaving unsightly trenches.

In addition, drainage has been improved with the addition of new gullies. The main complexity of the scheme involved dealing with the 60 plus old and dilapidated cellar lights all of which have been rebuilt with a standard glass window.

Improvements will be made throughout the county, with details of where to be revealed at a later stage.