A new watchdog and monitor have been established by the government to help make England's motorways and major roads run better.

These are to be tasked with holding the Highways Agency - which is soon to be transformed into a government-owned company - to account, on behalf of road users, taxpayers and government.

The new road monitor is to be run by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to ensure that the network is managed in a more transparent way than ever.

Passenger Focus will meanwhile be tasked with representing users of the strategic road network. The body already has more than 60 years of experience representing bus, coach and tram passengers, and it has also worked for rail passengers.

The ORR will also be given the power to carry out independent enforcement activity if the highways company fails to deliver and new powers expanding the remit of Transport Focus.