A £2.6m project to replace ageing and unreliable traffic lights in the region’s tourism capital is about to get underway.

Transport bosses at City of York Council have announced the work will begin with the replacement of lights at the junction of George Hudson Street and Micklegate at the end of this month.

That work will be followed by more at other junctions around the city centre over the next six years.

The authority’s executive member for transport, Cllr Ian Gillies, said: “We’ve listened to residents and recognise that our traffic signals are not as reliable as they could be.

“Investing now will help to bring our systems into the 21st-century, saving vital time spent otherwise on repairs and maintenance and more importantly saving money from the public purse.

“By investing in the basics now, it will help to keep York’s roads moving, improving journey reliability and the overall driving and commuter experience in York for future years.”