A TOWN'S mayor is to pressure the government to award funding for road improvements.

Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd is to press the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling when he visits the town today.

Earlier this year, Middlesbrough Council announced consultations for plans for road-widening at the Southern Cross junction, which forms part of the Marton Crawl, which they hope could be carried out in 2018.

Plans were also unveiled for a £3m “through-about” project at the junction of the A66/A171 Cargo Fleet roundabout.

Mr Budd said: “We are absolutely positive our proposals could make a huge improvement to the Middlesbrough road network which would be welcomed by residents and also have positive repercussions for the wider Tees Valley and business and industry.

"I will be making the case for funding to the Secretary of State for Transport during his visit and we are seeking a formal meeting with Ministers in the New Year and we should all be targeting a positive outcome for Middlesbrough.”