The much-anticipated new crossing to Kenilworth Castle is moving forward, with residents set to be given the chance to view the plans in more detail next month.

Kenilworth Town Council has been pushing ahead with the designs for the link on Castle Road for nearly two years, looking to provide safer pedestrian access to the town's main tourist destination.

Designs for the crossing are almost complete, meanwhile English Heritage is working towards creating the paths which will connect the crossing to the castle itself.

A public information event is due to be held on October 15 at Kenilworth Castle.

At last week's town council meeting, Cllr Zoe Leventhal gave an update.

"We have had a positive meeting with a number of stakeholders at the castle in July," she said.

"The updates are: the county council has issued its public notice for the crossing, that was open for comments until September 2.

"That element is progressing.

"It has already been through road safety audits."

Cllr Leventhal continued: "The designs are now well advanced and have been discussed with the county council, and they are looking at finalising those designs and seeking funding for that."

The town council has already approved a £17,000 grant to English Heritage to help with the footpath works. This money is from the council's CIL budget - money taken from local housing developers.

At last week's meeting councillors also voted to extend the period during which English Heritage can claim the grant.

Cllr Kate Dickson explained: "We agreed an amount set aside of £17k of CIL funding for the castle side of the footpath that is going across.

"Unfortunately it has taken English Heritage longer than expected to receive the necessary permissions to do the works.

"So they are asking us to extend the period of their application until June 2027.

"They are hoping to get the work done in spring."

A public consultation was previously held on the preferred spot for the crossing.

The decided spot was tweaked slightly earlier this year, due to "root protection issues".

The crossing to the castle had been included as a priority in the neighbourhood plan approved in 2018.