MPs in Worcestershire have welcomed a £7 million cash bonus from the Government - calling it a "fantastic boost" for the county.

As your Worcester News revealed earlier today, ministers have decided to extend the Local Growth Fund project to hand Worcestershire an extra £7.2 million.

The kitty will help fund a 20-acre extension of Evesham Vale Park, focusing on high-tech agriculture, and fund 600 new apprenticeships and 3,000 extra high-level skills qualifications at colleges and sixth forms by 2020.

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: "This is a fantastic boost for jobs and skills in Worcestershire, and I particularly welcome the investment in 600 more apprenticeships as well as thousands of other higher level skills qualifications.

"Along with the very welcome commitment to keep working with Worcestershire on vital improvements to the A4440 Southern Link Road this shows that our localism agenda of devolving powers to local authorities can make a real difference.

"I am proud of what Worcestershire has achieved already and proud of supporting a Government that has done so much to energise the local agenda."

Mr Walker said he did not expect another growth fund announcement from the Government until next year.

Harriett Baldwin, who represents West Worcestershire, said: "It is crucial we invest in our infrastructure to encourage more people to make their base in our wonderful county.

"Better roads, train services and superfast broadband will all make the county more attractive to businesses and their employees.

"And alongside this, we will invest in our young people, offering skills and qualifications which will be relevant to local employers."

Worcester's Labour parliamentary candidate, Councillor Joy Squires, said she "welcomes the funds" despite saying the offer was more evidence of a piecemeal approach from central Government.

The Local Growth Fund is worth £2 billion a year across the UK and so far, from a 'wish list' totalling around £250 million last night's announcement takes the total to £54 million handed to Worcestershire.

It will all be handed to the county's Local Enterprise Partnership, which created the wish list alongside the county council.

It emerged last night that of the £7.2 million, some will be handed to the councils to manage a beefed-up grant funding system for small businesses looking to expand.