Construction has commenced on a new £5.6m greenway project in County Down.

Belfast-based civil engineering company Charles Brand are the contractors for the Newtownards to Bangor Greenway, which spans 5.4km long and utilises much of the old railway track in the area.

It will run between Floodgates, Newtownards and Green Road, Bangor. It includes up to four-metre-wide paths for walking and cycling with accompanying railings, fencing, lighting and planting.

This project is expected to take 12 months to complete and is funded by the Department for Infrastructure in conjunction with the Department for Transport (DfT) through the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins recently marked the start of construction, joined by other funders, Ards and North Down’s Mayor Councillor Alastair Cathcart and representatives from UK Government.

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At the commencement of construction, Minister Liz Kimmins said: "I am delighted that my Department could contribute £2.8m to deliver this greenway project between Bangor and Newtownards and it is great to be here today to see work on the ground underway.

"This greenway will benefit both the local community and visitors to the area and will complement plans for further development opportunities in Ards and North Down, including opportunities that will arise through my Department's Active Travel Delivery Plan, which is currently out for consultation.

"This project is a fine example of the value of Government bodies working together to deliver for local communities."

The scheme will be completed in two stages. Stage one has now commenced between Belvedere Road, Newtownards and Whitespots Country Park.

Stage 2 will be between Whitespots and Green Road, Bangor, passing Ark Open Farm, mostly following the former railway line in a north easterly direction towards Green Road, Bangor where it will link with the existing shared path along Green Road.

DfT Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood added: "I'm pleased to see construction begin on this greenway, which will make walking and cycling between Newtownards and Bangor easier, safer and more accessible than ever before."