The Government has awarded £22.8m to Wakefield Council to help build a new road connecting Wakefield, Barnsley and the surrounding areas to the trunk road network.

The Department for Transport hopes that the Dearne Towns Link, a 4.97 mile stretch of single carriageway running from the Hemsworth Bypass to the A1 at Barnsdale Bar, will boost the West Yorkshire economy as well as diverting through-traffic away from urban areas.

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton said: "This new road scheme is vitally important to the region. It will provide a quicker and more reliable journey between south-east Wakefield and north Barnsley to the A1 trunk road, in turn boosting economic growth and helping with the regeneration of surrounding areas.”