Seven English towns are in the running to receive funding through the Government's multi-million pound Sustainable Transport Town initiative, it was announced today.

The Department for Transport has set aside £7.5 million to help develop plans for sustainable transport in two English towns.

The towns will use the money to encourage walking, cycling and other public transport use and act as showcases for other towns wishing to promote greater travel choice.

The shortlisted towns are Halifax, Darlington, Peterborough, Worcester, Hereford, Wolverhampton and Weston-super-Mare. Each will now submit fully worked-up plans for schemes to promote sustainable transport by reducing car dependency, tackling traffic congestion and helping to provide a wider diversity of modes of transport.

The towns on the shortlist were chosen from 50 outline schemes submitted at the end of September.

The two winning towns will be announced next year. .