EXTRA cash to complete the major refurbishment of Eastleigh bus station has been approved by transport leaders.

Work on the first two phases of the £580,000 project has already been carried out, but due to increased costs there are now insufficient funds in the kitty to finish the job.

Eastleigh Borough Council is managing the scheme on behalf of Hampshire County Council, which is endeavouring to encourage more people to use public transport as an alternative to private cars.

In order to ensure the project is completed - hopefully by July this year - members of the roads and development sub-committee have agreed to contribute a further £130,000 towards the work.

The additional cost is to be met from the Southampton Area Transport Strategy funding allocation for the central Eastleigh transport plan.

Phase three will involve the construction of a mini-roundabout on the service road at the northern end of the bus station, new paving and landscaping, secure parking spaces for bicycles and parking bays for disabled drivers.

County surveyor John Ekins said he was "very happy" to support the allocation.

But he warned that the use of cash earmarked for the central Eastleigh transport plan could mean that some improvement schemes planned for the town centre may not now go ahead.