BROMSGROVE town centre is set to benefit from a £3.4m boost, designed to get residents fit and healthy.

Worcestershire County Council is making a number of improvements, thanks to the £3.4m National Productivity Investment Fund funding awarded to it by the Department for Transport last year.

It is hoped the work will encourage more people to walk, helping alleviate the town's current congestion problems and combat rising air pollution.

The zebra crossing along Windsor Street is the first to undergo a revamp, with work starting earlier this week.

The crossing will be realigned to enable better access to the crossing for pedestrians, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, and people with pushchairs.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and infrastructure for Worcestershire County Council said: "These works around Bromsgrove are an essential part of our walking and cycling improvements across Worcestershire.

"The aim is to create a walking and cycling network that is simple and easy to use, offering an alternative to driving for residents and visitors. This in turn, will have a positive impact on congestion and air pollution."

West Mercia Police Inspector Dave King welcomed the move.

He said: "This is great news for our town centre and a welcome addition. Let's get healthy Grove."

The latest improvement works will build on a number of minor works that have already been carried out.

Further improvements to crossing locations include Hanover Street/ Worcester Road Zebra crossings, Kidderminster Road crossing (by Sanders Park), Market Street Crossing (near Asda) and Birmingham Road toucan crossing (near Travis Perkins).

In total, nine routes have been identified using quieter streets to link key destinations such as the train station to the town centre.

The routes will see pathway and road resurfacing to improve journey comfort, upgrading of the lighting to LED lamps, clearer comprehensive route signing to include location, distance and time markers, the dropping of kerbs and the introduction of tactile paving at crossing points to improve accessibility.