WORK has started on a £30m scheme to reduce traffic congestion in a town.

The Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme will provide a 2.7-mile bypass on the A165 approach to the town.

Two park-and-ride facilities will be built.

The town centre traffic control system will also be changed.

The package was drawn up by North Yorkshire County Council and approved by the Government in August.

It will cost about £30.5m, with £750,000 coming from the county council and the rest from central government.

County councillor Peter Sowray, executive member for environmental services, performed a sod-cutting ceremony next to the A165 at Cayton Bay Holiday Village to mark the start of the project.

Guests at the ceremony included civic leaders from Scarborough, county councillors, and representatives of parish councils.