A new Ashby footpath that took that was 18 months in the making is proving popular with local residents.

The path across Western Park links Avenue Road with Packington Nook Lane and provides walkers and those with pushchairs or wheelchairs with easier access.

It was an idea that was put forward by Ashby de la Zouch Town Councillor Dr Barbara Kneale in 2019.

But a combination of bad weather - flooding hit the area in early 2020 - and the Coronavirus lockdown meant it was only completed last month.

However, it is already being used regularly and is designed to be particularly useful in the winter months when the park gets muddy.

Cllr Kneale told Ashby Nub News: "We were working on a variety of projects and mine was accepted.

"It had to be dry to be done but we had really bad weather, then we had Covid, but it was laid about a month ago.

"This is all going to lined up now with no parking signs and stickmen so that people know it's a pathway.

"It's safe access for children, people with pushchairs, less mobile people, wheelchairs, and it means you can walk straight through to the school from Avenue Road.

"And, as people locally have said, you can't always get through on Avenue Road because people park on the pavements.

"People were also mentioning the muddiness of the field, it can be impossible to get across the park if it's wet. And parking was often a problem. But it's been helping a lot of people. It benefits a wider group of people.

"I've also mentioned to the Town Clerk about possibly rewilding the area next to the path."

It is a second success for Cllr Kneale who helped campaign for the pathway behind Royal Hotel to be declared a Public Right of Way by Leicestershire County Council - a decision that was confirmed last month and stops developers drawing up plans to close two entrances to the Bath Grounds.

Cllr Kneale: "It's been pleasing and what we're actually doing is setting up a series of footpaths so that people can walk around Ashby safely."