MATCHBOROUGH residents are celebrating after a long-running battle to get a path in the area came to an end.

Groups can look forward to safe passage down Breaches Lane, thanks to long-awaited borough council improvements.

The path runs from Ashorne Close to Matchborough Way and ward councillor Juliet Brunner said three women had been hospitalised last year due to the disrepair of the path, so the improvements were great news.

"It's all down to the community working together and pressure from the Matchborough West Tenants' Association," she said.

She added they had been fighting since the summer to get the path made safer, and finally new contractors had resurfaced the entire pathway.

"It was certainly a danger, but now there are no roots pushing up through the path. They actually did it just before Christmas so there was a safe passage down the path for people."

Mrs Brunner said the success was down to working with people and highlighting the problems.

She added: "It's a good news story that we started the new year off with something positive - we don't expect to hear of any more falls."