More than £1 million will be pumped into Swindon's transport system next year.

The money will be used to battle congestion in the town as part of the first phase of Swindon's local transport plan.

Cycle lanes, safer routes to schools, bus priority measures, and park and ride schemes are just some of the things which will be carried out to clear Swindon's clogged roads.

In total £1,014,000 will be invested in the transport system, with £750,000 going towards a new park and ride scheme. This new scheme will compliment the existing one at the Copse near Blunsdon, but the exact site has not been determined yet.

At the moment Swindon Borough Council is at loggerheads with North Wilts District Council over a proposed park and ride at Spittleborough Farm, near Junction 16 of the M4.

The final decision will be made on this at a planning inquiry due to be held on Thursday, December 5. Eventually the council wants to have six park and rides in total, covering every major entry point into the town.

A new cycle track in Lydiard Fields will be built with a budget of £93,000. And £100,000 will be pumped into safer routes to schools to ensure that Swindon's children are safe whether they walk, cycle or are driven to school.

Peter Ellershaw, director of council environmental services, said: "The main emphasis of the local transport plan is to provide quality alternatives to using the car."