Improvements to Darlington's roads are likely after the borough council received an additional £268,000 from the Department for Transport.

The money was awarded to the local authority in recognition of its performance in improving roads this year, and it means Darlington's roads will benefit from a £3.1m investment in 2003 and 2004.

Major work has already begun to improve the main routes into Darlington, concentrating initially on Yarm Road and North Road.

During the past year, other schemes have included the Cockerton to Faverdale cycle route, a safer routes to schools initiative at Harrowgate Hill Junior School, work to raise kerbs to provide better access to buses along the A67 and A167, and the production of a comprehensive bus timetable and map, which will be delivered to every household in the borough.

Plans for the next financial year still have to be finalised but about £1.4m will be spent on improving roads and bridges and £1.8m on integrating transport with bus lanes, pedestrian crossings and cycle paths.

A new electronic sign is being installed to advise motorists of car parking spaces available throughout the town and there are plans to improve access at bus stops for wheelchair and pushchair users.

£50,000 has been earmarked for a Flightlink bus service between Bank Top Railway Station and Teesside Airport and £50,000 for the Tees Valley Bus Passenger Real Time Information System.