WORCESTER'S hopes of securing £70 million to dual the congested Carrington Bridge has received a major boost - after an unlikely ally was found in a neighbouring county.

Your Worcester News can reveal how council chiefs in Herefordshire have announced it is joining the campaign to get the A4440 bridge revamped, insisting it would have huge benefits across the entire south Midlands region.

Such an intervention is very unusual, meaning any incoming Government after May's General Election faces pressure from two counties with a combined population of 750,000 people to act.

Worcestershire County Council is spending more than £40 million of taxpayers cash overhauling the rest of the Southern Link Road, dualling it in a mammoth scheme due for completion by mid-2018.

But the biggest roads revamp for a generation will stop at Carrington Bridge, with the eye-watering costs meaning it remains out of reach.

Worcester MP Robin Walker held talks over it with Chancellor George Osborne recently, and a delegation of county-decision makers went to London in January to lobby ministers.

Your Worcester News understands how during that trip, ministers made it clear a dualling would not happen without Herefordshire support.

Now bosses at Herefordshire Council have agreed to come on board, saying solving the bridge's problems would reap huge benefits for Worcester, Malvern, Hereford and beyond to spark serious growth.

Herefordshire Council has produced a letter saying it believes "essential business" is being lost because the link gets so busy.

The letter says "the full benefits" of properly opening up the A4440 Southern Link Road, connecting areas like Worcester, Tewkesbury, Birmingham, Wales and Hereford far better for cross-tourism and jobs will only be realised once the Carrington Bridge is dual-tracked.

It adds that the section to Powick island must also be dualled, adding that many people "have no choice" but to use the congested bridge and its "unpredictable and often costly delays" are holding both counties back.

"Late deliveries due to unavoidable congestion can be ample case for businesses to lose contracts and essential business," it says.

The intervention has been welcomed at County Hall, which is pinning its hopes on a breakthrough and has already pledged £7 million if the Government coughs up £63 million.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "It's very good news, this is exactly what we've said all along - the Carrington Bridge being dualled wouldn't just help Worcester and Malvern."

Worcester MP Robin Walker hailed it as a "real breakthrough", calling the letter "vital".

After his talks with the Chancellor nothing was forthcoming in the way of funds.

Mr Osborne then went on to announce funds for a major M5 project through Worcestershire, cranking up suggestions for the A4440 to get attention.

"Finishing the dualling of the southern link and getting the money to dual the Carrington Bridge is unfinished business and I want to do everything I can to press the case," said Mr Walker.

“If I'm re-elected this will be my top priority for road improvements as I believe it could substantially reduce the traffic that affects Worcester and it is something that can be delivered relatively quickly.

“Dualling would also benefit the flood resilience of the city and the attractiveness of west Worcester as a place for new businesses.”