A £1 million town centre improvement project has been highly commended in a prestigious awards scheme.

The changes at East Grinstead were praised by judges in the Royal Town Planning Institute's South East Awards.

The improvements were part of a joint project involving West Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council and East Grinstead Town Council.

Changes included wider pavements, new seating, landscaping, a 20mph speed limit and better facilities for bus travellers in the London Road and High Street area.

The judging panel said in their report: "Before the scheme the problems were obvious - an accident rate higher than it should have been and an unpleasant traffic-choked environment, despite the obvious attractiveness and heritage value of the High Street itself.

"That all changed when a steering group was formed by the councils that involved residents and business groups, transport operators and other organisations with an interest in the town centre.

"The end result is High Street that now functions like a proper place, not just a through road with before and after speed figures telling an especially impressive story."

Work started on the scheme in October 2002 and it was officially opened in July 2003.