A FORMER Mayor of Worcester is backing a bid to ease congestion by tapping into a £60 million Government kitty - calling it well overdue.

Councillor Roger Berry, a member of Worcester City Council's Labour leadership, says decision-makers at County Hall have "got to do something" about the jams.

As the Worcester News revealed this week, Worcestershire County Council is going to bid from a new sustainable travel pot which will dish out cash to areas looking to invest in cycling and walking outside London.

The Tory-led authority is responsible for roads, and will draw up a bid before the September deadline.

Councillor Berry has now appealed to Tory politicians at County Hall to make sure they get it right - saying the city council is ready to work alongside them on it.

The veteran Labour figure, now the cabinet member for housing and heritage, has also cited fears about Worcester being labelled a "congestion city".

Speaking during a city council cabinet meeting, he said: "Clearly, if we're not going to be a 'congestion city' we've got to do something about it.

"As the city council we've got to work with the (councillors) at Worcestershire County Council.

"You can't just get rid of park and ride and not offer an alternative, I do think this is a real opportunity to do something about Worcester's congestion problem.

"We all know the city is grinding to a halt, we recognise that something needs to be done about it, the county has got to be willing to work with us."

Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for highways at County Hall, has said they have until September 9 to get the bid in.

The Government says the £60 million kitty, known as the Sustainable Travel Access Fund, will be encouraging councils to devise ideas which can "improve access to jobs, skills, training and education" by easing hold-ups.

The money will last for three years, from 2017 to 2020, with the first set of grants due to be dished out by the end of the year.