Sussex was given almost £29 million of Government cash today to pay for small-scale transport improvements.

The grant can be used for everything from bus lanes and cycle lanes, to park and ride schemes, traffic calming and better information for passengers.

It will help councils to implement local transport plans, which were presented to the Department of Transport in last year.

Transport minister John Spellar said: "The Government is listening to motorists and road users and is committed to getting our roads moving.

"The settlement will pay for thousands of minor schemes that make a substantial difference to communities."

He said West Sussex County Council would get £12.2 million, an increase of £820,000.

East Sussex County Council would receive £10.6 million next year, £700,000 more than in this financial year.

Brighton and Hove City Council would receive £5.75 million, a hike of £1.2 million.

The national settlement had grown from £1.36 billion last year to £1.58 billion, as the Government implemented its ten-year transport plan.

Sussex councils were not given the green light for any major schemes, those needing funding of more than £5 million.

Proposed improvements to the A24 Horsham-Capel road were put on hold by Mr Spellar.

He said he needed more information about the scheme before he could decide whether it should receive Government cash.

A spokeswoman for West Sussex County Council said officers were reading through the report to assess the figures and the impact they would have on budgets.