A SERIES of transport projects are to benefit from a boost in Government funding.

The announcement means that North Yorkshire County Council will receive £28.6m for 2004/5, compared to £26.4m for 2003/4.

The increase was granted after the latest progress report on the council's five-year Local Transport Plan was submitted to the Government.

The county council has been put in the top ten per cent of all local transport authorities in England by the Government after a series of improvements to the area's transport network were carried out during the past 18 months.

These include the refurbishment of three bus stations, the development of eight town centre traffic management strategies and the strengthening of 70 bridges.

They have also improved 800 bus stops, completed almost 100 safety schemes and introduced or upgraded more than 850 pedestrian crossing facilities to help people with mobility problems

Councillor Peter Sowray, the county council's executive member for environmental services, said: "This is very good news.

"The extra funding will certainly help us continue to deliver a significant number of projects, which will I am sure be welcomed by local communities across North Yorkshire.

"We are particularly pleased that the Government has recognised the excellent progress the county council is making in delivering a wide range of transport projects in accordance with our five-year Local Transport Plan. This has clearly been important in deciding our allocation for next year."

The money will be spent on road safety and accident reduction schemes, public transport, traffic management and calming projects, plus structural maintenance schemes.

Val Fitton, head of finance and administration in the council's environmental services department, said: "One of the main things we have been doing over the past 18 months is consulting on local traffic management studies.

"The Government has said we are delivering the schemes that we said we would deliver and we are extremely pleased with that."