City centre makeover set to begin

A £19m scheme to improve Leicester city centre is set to begin in the New Year.

A poster campaign will make people aware of the "Streets and Spaces" scheme to regenerate the city's main shopping areas.

Improvements will include high quality paving, new seating, planting and street furniture, and the pedestrianisation of the High Street.

The work is planned to compliment the ongoing £350m extension of The Shires Shopping Centre.

The posters will be displayed at 23 prominent city centre sites, and will feature an artist's impression of how the centre will look once work is complete.

Gallowtree Gate, Horsefair Street and the Granby Street/Halford Street junction will be the first areas to benefit from the work, which will start in January.

Work will also begin in the St George's area of the city, where the council's new performing arts centre is already under construction.