PEOPLE living on a busy street in Malvern have been promised a safe area where neighbours can chat and children can play.

Duke of Edinburgh Way is among 61 streets in England where a Home Zone will be set up to give priority to pedestrians over motorists.

Traffic will be kept to very low speeds through a radical redesign of streets to create much wider pavements and possibly remove kerbs.

New planting of trees and shrubs and designated parking spaces are designed to create an environment where neighbours can meet and children can play safely.

The idea is to make it obvious to motorists that they should give priority to residents and pedestrians within the Home Zone boundaries.

The Government-led scheme, which has won Malvern £595,416 in funding, will cover 310 houses.

Ward Councillor Ann Silk welcomed the scheme, which she said would "knit together the community".

"This will allow children to play safely in the street without their mothers being in fear of speeding motorists," said Mrs Silk, who is a co-opted member of the town council.

"It will enable communities to live together in greater tolerance.

"We do have a particular problem in this street with boy racers so I'm delighted it will become a safer, more attractive place for residents."

Town Mayor Whinray Coates said the scheme was much needed.

"We're a very big town and experience the same sort of problems as most inner cities, so a project like this is most welcomed."

The Department of Transport - which gave the go-ahead for Worcestershire County Council's bid for cash - said it would create "safe, clean and attractive residential areas, with innovative use of space".

The successful bidders for the £30m Home Zones Challenge were announced by Transport Minister Sally Keeble.

The Children's Play Council and Transport 2000 have been involved in the development of Home Zones, an idea originally piloted in the Netherlands.