AN ambitious £35 million bid has been launched to improve Worcestershire's economy, it has emerged.

Decision-makers in the county have teamed up to ask central Government for a fresh whack of funding from its national £2 billion 'Growth Fund'.

If successful the cash injection would:

- Help the University of Worcester improve its sporting offer by creating a new centre for inclusive sport, including an indoor cricket facility

- Create a new engineering facility at the Heart of Worcestershire College to help students get the right skills

- Secure the expansion of an existing 'Worcestershire Growth Fund' which dishes out grants allowing firms to grow and create more jobs

- Allow another potential expansion of Malvern Hills Science Park and upgrade the A38 Worcester Road in Bromsgrove

- Support the improvements planned to the North Cotswold railway line from Worcester to London, focusing on developing 9.5 hectares of rural land along the link

The bid, which has been drawn up by the Local Enterprise Partnership on conjunction with the county council, comes after Worcestershire was awarded a total of £54.2 million from two previous funding rounds.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the county council's leader, said: "Recent statistics show Worcestershire’s economy is at the top of the tables for growth.

"I'm confident these proposals for extra funding would help sustain that progress and deliver real benefits."

The bid comes despite the Government's fund being heavily oversubscribed by the 39 competing LEPs despite to grab extra money.

In March we revealed how the National Audit Office did criticise some of them for not offering enough value for money after an investigation found £85 million handed out in 2015/16 was left unspent.

That sparked frustration in Worcestershire, with the LEP saying it is more than ready to spend the cash.

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership's, said: “We know this is a funding stream which is oversubscribed many times over.

"However we believe we have a compelling case for an additional £35 million due to our current successes and have submitted an ambitious bid for Worcestershire."

Back in 2014 the county created its own Growth Fund 'wish list' totalling £250 million by 2021.

It was handed £47 million in July last year and at the start of 2015 more funds were dished out, with Worcestershire's kitty topped up by £7.2 million.

The cash already handed down from Whitehall is funding projects like Worcestershire Parkway rail station, access to the Worcester Six business park, flooding alleviation, £12 million for the A4440 Southern Link Road widening and various other road enhancements.

The long list also includes creating 20 acres of new employment land at Evesham Vale Park, cash for 600 apprenticeships, £2.4 million towards Superfast Broadband and £5 million for Kidderminster Railway Station.