Investment of almost £5m has been announced to fund walking and cycling routes in Runcorn.

The Liverpool City Region has unveiled a £30m package for active travel projects in the borough, as well as Knowsley and Sefton, designed to form part of an integrated 'London-style' transport system for the sub region.

The Runcorn investment package of £4.9m is for walking and cycling travel infrastructure linked to the planned Runcorn busway scheme, which is part of the wider regeneration of Palacefields.

The money will be allocated from the city region sustainable transport settlement (CRSTS), a pot of £710m set aside for major transport infrastructure projects across the Liverpool City Region.

Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "I want the Liverpool City Region to be the best place in the country for walking and cycling. Investing in safe, accessible active travel infrastructure is key to making that a reality."

He said the announcement brought total investment in the sub region's active travel network to £100m.

He added: "By making it easier for people to walk or cycle, especially for shorter trips, we're connecting our communities, supporting economic growth, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting quality of life for everyone in our region. This investment is another stride forward in building a world-class transport network that’s healthier, greener, and better connected for all."

The work is part of wider plans to deliver a 600km network of walking and cycling routes across the six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region - Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral - with more than 260km set to be delivered by the end of 2026.

In July, it was announced that more than £17.5m would also be committed to a new pedestrian and cycle link for East Runcorn, supporting sustainable transport, employment and housebuilding.

Project chiefs said at the time that the cash would be used to install new cycle routes and widen footpaths along the A56, as well as improve and upgrade existing highways infrastructure, including pedestrian crossings and road surfaces.