Plans have been revealed to upgrade the A1 road in Newcastle.

Proposals by Highways England include adding an extra lane along a five-mile stretch of the dual carriageway from Scotswood, just after the River Tyne, up to North Brunton.

A series of public information events revealed the majority of respondents agreed there is a need for improvements.

Highways England project manager, Charlotte Taylor, said the scheme will improve journeys and cut congestion for motorists near Newcastle.

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"As part of this scheme we have held a number of public engagement events, including ones for residents living near Birchfield Gardens about the possibility of closing the access road and we have concluded that the access road will remain open," she said.

"There are a number of options for the design of the access road and these will now be developed along with the rest of the scheme and further engagement will take place next year.

"The overall improvements will provide additional capacity, improve journey times and safety while supporting economic growth in the region."

Further improvements will be held in autumn 2018 towards the end of preliminary design stage. Work is expected to start by March 2020.

(LM/MH)