Cash to improve paths to school

Children's safety in Darlington is to be improved after the council secured £100,000 of government cash for three new 'links to school' schemes.

The funding is provided by the Department of Transport via Sustrans, an organisation offering support for sustainable transport development.

It is part of a £10m national drive to develop and improve links to schools.

The money will be used to enhance pathways and to install a new pedestrian crossing.

'Safer pathways'

Plans include upgrading the link from Red Hall estate to the River Skerne.

A toucan crossing will be installed on Carmel Road.

There will also be a link from Hurworth village to Neasham village, providing a pathway for pupils to get to schools in Hurworth.

Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for transport said: "The improved works and new routes will provide pupils, and members of the public, with enhanced and safer pathways to use to get to and from school."