A POPULAR bus route is to be given a £500,000 makeover.

Thirty five well-lit and comfortable bus shelters and 46 new low bus kerbs are planned along the route of Arriva's Number 63 service.

The service operates between Redcar bus station and the Redcar and Cleveland boundary with neighbouring Middlesbrough, at Marton railway station.

About two million people take a bus along this route, but Redcar and Cleveland Council plans to revamp its 60 bus stops to encourage more people to leave their cars at home in future.

The borough's second busiest route - Arriva's 65 service - is likely to be upgraded next year.

The 65 starts at Whitby and goes into Redcar and Cleveland at Boulby, then through Loftus, Carlin How, Brotton, Skelton, Guisborough and Ormesby.

The upgrade is planned to start in the New Year. Proposals are available for public scrutiny at three libraries - Redcar Central, Roseberry Square and Ormesby - with comment forms.

Council staff will monitor the service as the improvements are carried out.

Councillor Eric Empson, cabinet member for strategic planning, said: "If we're to succeed in getting people to leave their cars at home more, we must provide them with comfortable and safe surroundings.

"That means ensuring the shelter and the area around it, is properly lit and that the shelter is appropriately sited as well as making it as easy as possible to get on and off the bus.

"Add a reliable service that arrives and leaves on time, and we've got the basis to see if we can successfully promote a viable travel option.''