A major regeneration scheme for the Hough Lane area will not start until people have had a chance to have their say about the plans, but a range of improvements will be carried out in the meantime.

Work started this week on replacing and repairing old planters, walls, benches and bollards and the street furniture will be refreshed or repainted, at the request of the Leyland Business Forum.

South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council are working together on the £20,000 upgrade.

Work should be completed in time for the Leyland Transport Festival on July 11 and 12.

Residents and businesses will be able to air their views on the overhaul of the Hough Lane junction with Churchill Way during a public consultation later in the summer.

Coun Cliff Hughes, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration and planning, said: "As requested, the works are a spruce and tidy up rather than major improvements, so disruption to businesses should be kept to a minimum.

"Businesses voted on their preferences for improvements, and we have taken these into account. We hope the results will make Hough Lane look just that little bit better."

Businessman Michael Fadden, owner of Leyland Electra Centre in Hough Lane, said it is a step in the right direction.

"It was mentioned at a traders' meeting," he said. "It's a quick makeover. They started on Monday. There are flowerbeds with no flowers in and seats that are cracked and splintered. There's nothing worse than something scruffy and ruining the look.

"The Transport Festival is the big thing. Business is tough at the moment so anything is better than nothing."