Maldon could be in line for £44million for road improvements.

The Government has awarded the South East Local Enterprise Partnership £442.2million for projects across Essex, Kent and Sussex.

The LEP’s actual plans cost £10billion, and it is bidding for extra funding, but include:

* £40million for the Heybridge relief road. Work is hoped to start in 2016/17 and end in 2018/19.

* £4million for the B1022 Colchester to Maldon and £4million for the A414 Maldon to Chelmsford, including congestion relief and safety measures. Work is due to start on the B1022 in 2017 and be finished by 2020, and improvements to the A414 will start in 2016 and be complete by 2018.