A total of £1.4 billion has been allocated to improve transport around West Yorkshire and the city of York. The funding is the result of an agreement between councillors for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and is expected to free up £420 million of government money.

Plans set to go ahead include a new junction on the M62 near Brighouse, upgrades to local rail lines and the expansion of park and ride schemes.

There are already 30 projects slated for completion in 2021, with more to follow by 2025. The investment is expected to create as many as 20,000 new jobs for the region.

The arrangement is part of the Strategic Economic Plan drawn up by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has been adopted by the Combined Authority.

An enthusiastic Combined Authority chairman Councillor Peter Box said: "This vital programme of transport development focuses on delivering benefits which transcend district boundaries.”