WORK started on January 7 to create and improve footpaths in Gillingham and make a section of pavement safer for adults, children and people with disabilities.

The work on the B3081 Shaftesbury Road will be carried out in two phases and is to be completed by the end of February.

The main contractor is Dorset Works Organisation on behalf of Dorset County Council.

Supervising engineer Nick Dunkley of Dorset Engineering Consultancy said the work would be carried out between the roundabout at Park Farm to Lodden bridge.

Mr Dunkley said the path was quite narrow in places and overgrown.

Mr Dunkley said they would start working on footways, or pavements, where they owned the land.

The second phase would be where they needed to acquire the land, which was already under way.

He said: "There have been two very large housing estates built in the last dozen years. A lot more people walk along there, including children going to school."

Mr Dunkley added: "It should hopefully offer some improved facilities, widening and putting in dropped kerbs when we can to assist disabled people."

County councillor Andrew Cattaway, whose Stour Vale ward covers the area, said he was delighted that the work was being done.

"There are some places where there is no pavement.

"I have been pressed by residents on that road almost since I was elected to the county council two and three quarter years ago about the fact that mothers are unable to walk their children with pushchairs to the new school St Mary's because of the pavement inadequacies.

"The road itself was very bumpy and noisy with heavy goods vehicles. Then last October and November the road surface was repaired.

"The completion of the pavement arrangements is excellent news to complete the job."

A North Dorset District Council spokesman said they had received money for the work through the housing developments.