A series of roadside electronic signs have been installed to keep motorists informed of traffic problems around Worcester.

The Variable Message Signs (VMS), costing £280,000, have been installed on six Worcester roads.

The County Council has been working with partners, Halcrow Consulting and Laser Civil Engineers, over the last 12 months.

The signs, which are now operational, have been installed on the city bound approaches to the Southern Link at Whittington Road, Bath Road, Malvern Road, Bransford Road, Crown East and on the Droitwich Road, near the Perdiswell Park-and-Ride site.

John Hobbs, the County Council's Director of Environmental Services, said: "These new signs inform drivers of traffic conditions and the reasons for any traffic delays giving them the opportunity to make other plans.

"This is the first major step for the county in using technology to make more effective use of our roads and bring about further improvements in public transport services."

The signs provide motorists with information on accidents, road closures, road works and special events that impact on the operation of the road network and enable motorists to plan their journeys and consider alternative arrangements. They are also being used to display road safety messages, weather warnings and links to the County Council's website.

The control computer is located at County Hall, Worcester and operated by the Network Management Team.

Future plans identified in the County Council's Local Transport Plan include providing details of currently available parking spaces, predicted bus arrival times at stops, improvements to traffic signal operations and better access to travel information through the County Council's web portal.

People interested in finding out more should visit www.worcestershire.whub.org.uk/transport