WALKING in Worcestershire is about to become better - after council leaders decided to spend £250,000 on giving pavements and footpaths an unexpected makeover.

The money is going to be targeted at the worst pavements in the county.

Council bosses do not know which roads are going to get the special treatment yet and plan an assessment of which roads need urgent action.

The windfall came about because district councils such as Bromsgrove confirmed their council tax receipts would be higher than ever this year. All surpluses from district authorities have to be given to the county council.

New buildings springing up in the town - and in other areas under the authority of the various district councils in Worcestershire - have led to a large increase in expected tax revenue. Cabinet member for finance Coun Adrian Hardman said: "The thing about this is that it's a one-off sum of money, it doesn't happen in other years.

"We decided to put the money specifically into footways and pavements in the county. We are aware that some of the pavements are not as good as they could be and do see it as a slight problem. This money will go towards improving the condition of the worst ones."

"It was an unexpected amount of extra money. You can't gauge at the start of the year what the collection funds from district authorities will be, it depends on new developments and so on.

"The collection funds from the likes of Bromsgrove district council have increased because of new buildings.