NINE, one metre granite balls shipped in from China will provide the finishing touches to the long-awaited £1.2 million Andover High Street improvements, due to be completed by 8 November.

The granite spheres are being brought from China because it's the most cost- effective place to obtain the material.

The street furniture which will spring up in the High Street in the next few weeks will follow the pattern of the designs used in the Upper High Street.

"In the Lower High Street the traffic has only recently departed but access will be retained for disabled people's vehicles, markets and the Guildhall," said Mr Mark Lambert, the Test Valley Borough Council officer overseeing the project.

"Consequently the bollards' job is to mark out important points for pedestrians and drivers and were required to be of a prominent design."

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