FUNDING for the final phase of a major link road project in Kidderminster has been secured.

Phase three of the Hoobrook Link Road has been included by the Government in its £36 billion investment for more than 200 infrastructure programmes across the country.

The latest investment secure the completion of the road - which will provide a link from the A451 Stourport Road, over the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and River Stour, through to the A442 Worcester Road - which, campaigners argue, will benefit the severe traffic congestion affecting the south of Kidderminster and alleviate the pressure on traffic in Stourport.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier welcomed the funding and said: "Backing small business and enterprise with better infrastructure is part of this Government's long-term economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive British economy.

"In 2014, the Government announced financial support for phase two and I am delighted that, again, Wyre Forest will benefit, with central funding for the final stage of this important infrastructure project. This announcement will both assist our current businesses but, crucially, it will help attract further business investment into the area, creating more jobs and opportunity locally."

Phase one of the project is currently under construction and the £12.4 million second phase was approved by Worcestershire County Council planners in February. Work is expected to start in less than a year.

That will see a 600-metre extension to the development access road through the former British Sugar Beet factory site, which would complete the link from the Stourport Road to the Worcester Road.

Work is expected to start in December or January next year and take 12 to 14 months to complete.