AN extra £6million is to be spent on improving Worcestershire pavements over the next two years, the county council has pledged.

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

In the past five years the county council said it had spoken to more than 55,000 residents, with roads and pavements raised a top concern.

Launching the scheme on Friday (August 18), Cllr Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "The £6million extra the county council has to improve our pavements will buy us 50 miles extra in improved pavements - that is the distance from Worcester to Oxford.

"The residents of Worcestershire are concerned with the 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."

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