A STUDY to help reduce traffic congestion in Darlington is to begin this month as part of the council's Town on the Move initiative.

Traffic consultants will be reviewing the road network in the town and discussing ways of improving it with the council's transport team.

Darlington Borough Council's £3.24m Town on the Move programme is one of three Department for Transport-funded initiatives in the country aiming to reduce traffic congestion, encourage greater use of public transport and get more people cycling and walking.

Town on the Move plans include new bus and cycle routes linking key sites, school walking schemes, bus stop signalling to advise passengers of bus arrival times and workplace travel plans.

The council itself will undergo a review to find a more efficient and greener way of distributing its internal mail between the council buildings in the borough.

Nick Wallis, council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The study will help us decide what changes can be made to ensure traffic moves more freely throughout Darlington."