ADVANTAGE Alcester is to spend £100,000 on public art work for three of the town's alleyways.

The alleyways, or tueries, form main access routes to High Street from Bull's Head Yard and Gas House Lane and have been criticised for being dark and uninviting for visitors.

Two Midlands-based public artists, Steven Field and Richard Ellis, have been commissioned to come up with ideas to spruce up the tueries which could include fibre optic lighting, new signs and surfaces.

They are to consult with local people, including the town council, Chamber of Trade and Civic Society, and are expected to submit detailed designs by April.

So far £75,000 has been pledged from Advantage West Midlands to pay for the scheme and a further £15,000 from Warwickshire County Council which is responsible for maintenance.

The rest of the funding is being sought from other sources.

Alcester market town officer Val Harris said: "The idea came from the health check which we carried out in 2002 which said the tueries need to be spruced up and made more inviting to visitors.

"This is public art being employed in a very practical way to improve lighting and footpaths. But it also has to be a creative way or it wouldn't be art."

Mrs Harris said the extent of the project will be dependent on how much funding was available.

John Mattocks, tuery projects leader for Advantage Alcester, stressed the importance of the project.

He said: "To local people they are familiar and convenient footpaths between the various parts of the town, but to visitors they must look scruffy and forbidding.

"As part of our plan to encourage more visitors and tourists to come to Alcester and use our wonderful range of businesses, and shops we want to make the tueries bright, smart and attractive thoroughfares."

Alcester has recently had a £10,500 steel frieze unveiled on the wall of the heritage centre in Priory Road.