WORK is under way on road repairs and improvements costing £4m.

And there's more on the way, Kirklees Council promises.

The extra money is being targeted at main roads across the borough.

Work has started at:

Manchester Road west of Marsden; Far Dene, Highburton; Sunnybank Road, Mirfield, and Gomersal Road/Oxford Road, Heckmondwike.

Others to start in the coming few weeks are:

Birkby Road, Birkby, from Halifax Road to Rose Mount; Manchester Road, Marsden, from Ainsley Lane to Towngate; New Hey Road, Lindley, from Acre Street to Oakes Road South; Leeds Road/Huddersfield Road from Roberttown to Heckmondwike, and Roberttown Lane, Roberttown.

Clr Martyn Bolt, Cabinet member responsible for highways, said his Tory administration had inherited a huge backlog of work when they took over from Liberal Democrats last year.

He said: "The additional £4m is targeted at what are termed strategic routes - that is, main roads - in addition to the normal multi-million pounds major capital spending on the roads improvement programme in general.

"It is the first part of a programme over the coming years to put extra money in to tackle the backlog, of which more details will form part of the coming year's budget proposals from the Cabinet."

Clr Bolt said: "In addition to spending already approved in the budget last year we are looking at tackling 30 extra routes across Kirklees this year as part of a longer term programme to improve the condition and standards of all our roads.

"I know there will be some roads in where residents may feel they have missed out, but I would remind them that their local councillors have about another £4m to address local roads and issues that they see as a priority over and above the mainstream council roads improvement programme."