A GOVERNMENT cash windfall means £19.8m will be spent on transport improvements in Darlington over the next five years.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced an extra £14m funding for the town yesterday. The money has been awarded in response to the borough council's bid for £16m over five years.

The council says £5.7m has been earmarked for the town's eastern transport corridor, formerly known as the cross-town route. The 1.8-mile road will connect the A66 trunk road to the east of the town with the B6279 Haughton Road.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said yesterday: "The scheme will open up access to land for development in the Morton Park area and it will reduce traffic flow along Haughton Road, McMullen Road and Yarm Road."

He said the remaining money would be spent on implementing strategies for road safety, rural transport, buses, rail and taxis, town centre access and parking, public transport information, cycling and walking.

"There will be £3m available for 2001-02, which is £1.4m more than last year's settlement," he added.

The leader of the council, Coun John Williams said the announcement was great news for Darlington.

He said: "Everybody has been waiting for the go-ahead for the east of town relief road for many years."

The DETR also announced a £91m boost to improve the transport infrastructure of County Durham, including provisional approval for several major new roads running east to west across the county