A PUB landlord is praising a new scheme that will see the end of drivers risking life and limb by using his car park as a short-cut.

Paul Carr, landlord of the Yew Tree Roast Inn in Victoria Road, Walton-le-Dale, says that drivers have been lucky not to have caused an accident, as they cut through the car park, from Victoria Road to London Way.

This rat-run will be replaced by a proper slip road, as part of improvements by Lancashire County Council, which also include an extra 800 park and ride spaces.

Mr Carr said: "I definitely agree with the scheme. It will help alleviate the problem in my car park.

"Luckily we've never had an accident, even though drivers come through here at speed."

The scheme, known as the M65 Interface improvements, was officially started on Monday, February 25, by County Councillor Nora Ward, who is responsible for highways, and Councillor Norman Crossley, Mayor of South Ribble, who cut the first turf.

As well as making the Yew Tree car park safer, the park and ride will cut traffic congestion in Preston town centre at rush hour.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "The aim of the improvements is to reduce the impact of additional traffic resulting from the completion of the M65.

"During the morning peak hour, most of the main routes into Preston are operating in excess of capacity.

"The park and ride site will provide approximately 820 spaces, and a new link road will be constructed through part of the Yew Tree public house car park."

Mr Carr said: "If we have this new road we'll get more legitimate business. They're taking part of the car park away for the road, but they're giving us the space back somewhere else."

The park and ride, which will offer secure parking with CCTV, will have an entrance at the Capitol Way junction with the A6. Buses will run every five minutes at peak time and every ten minutes off peak.

Work is due to be completed in November.