MILLIONS of pounds are set to be spent on improving bus services between Dudley and Birmingham.

More than £30 million will be invested in creating new bus lanes, upgrading junctions and enhancing bus stops to improve journey times and reliability on key routes between Birmingham and Dudley, following a government funding announcement.

It is hoped the improvements will tempt people away from making journeys by car.

The funding package is made up by a £24 million grant from the Department for Transport, with extra funding coming from Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: "We are already seeing bus use beginning to rise in the West Midlands - bucking the national trend - thanks to measures such as half-price travel for all 16-18-year-olds, convenient contactless ticketing, and live travel information apps.

“Now this new investment from Government will allow us to further improve bus journeys across the region, making them quicker and more reliable and helping to better connect people to work and leisure opportunities throughout the West Midlands.”

Detailed designs are to be developed by bus operators working with local authorities and communities.