MAJOR road improvements will be made to Battens Drive, in Winyates in the New Year to reduce accidents.

Worcestershire County Council, Redditch Council and nearby Brooklyn Garage have joined forces to cut casualties between the Warwick Highway and Colts Lane.

There have been 18 accidents resulting in injury on the stretch since 1999.

Now a traffic island will be installed at Brooklyn's entrance and a right-hand turn refuge for Colts Lane.

Work should begin in January and take six to eight weeks.

Brooklyn has made a substantial financial contribution towards the £100,000 costs.

Tenders have also just gone out for the development of six Safer Routes to School schemes in Redditch.

They are: Bromsgrove Road: Cyclist and pedestrian crossing facilities at the junction with Holmwood Drive.

Plymouth Road: traffic calming from Mount Pleasant to north of Plymouth Close.

Mount Pleasant: zebra crossing outside Southcrest Chapel.

Other Road/Holloway Lane: roundabout improvements and pelican crossing in Holloway Lane near Kings Arms.

Woodrow Drive: pelican crossings and more street lighting outside Kingsley College.

Changes to junction of Burton Lane and Holloway Lane including a cycle-only slip road.