COLCHESTER town centre is getting a £250,000 spruce up, courtesy of Essex County Council.

County Hall has been working on a £1 million project to improve the shopping experience in Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow and Basildon town and city centres.

The work in Colchester, which includes replacing broken slabs and treating footpaths with asphalt surfacing, began last month and will be completed by April 30.

Contractors have been repairing damaged paving and tidying up the appearance of footpaths in 26 town centre streets.

They include Eld Lane, Sir Isaac’s Walk, Church Street, Long Wyre Street, Culver Street East and West, Crouch Street, Head Street, High Street, St Botolph’s Street and Trinity Square.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for highways, said: “These essential works are a demonstration of our commitment to provide footways that Essex residents deserve.

“There will be some temporary disruptions while works are ongoing so please be patient. The benefit far outweighs these minimal disruptions.”

The work is largely being carried out during normal working hours, although some overnight works will also be carried out to ease congestion.