Thousands of pounds has been spent on cleaning up a Shropshire tourist trap.

Graffiti has been wiped from walls, potholes repaired and signs replaced in the Ironbridge area after a “decluttering” operation by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Council bosses said that the clean-up work will make it a more attractive place to visit and will help tourists get around the area.

The move comes after an extensive assessment of areas around the World Heritage Site by officers to see where works and improvements were needed.

Locations selected include Dale End, Museum of the Gorge car park, The Square, Waterloo Street and car park, High Street and Station Road car park.

Some signs considered unnecessary have been removed while others have been replaced or spruced up.

Council staff have also worked to scrub off graffiti, replace bins, repair potholes and check on street lighting.

Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Eric Carter, said that he had joined officers on several visits to Ironbridge to see where works were needed.

Mr Carter said: “This is a sensible and co-ordinated approach to addressing the overall appearance of Ironbridge and to improving the environment for residents and visitors. It is more than just a cosmetic exercise.

“The removal of damaged or redundant signing and new signing especially will make it easier for visitors and drivers to get around the gorge and also make it a more attractive place to visit.”

The work is part of the council’s multi-million pound Borough Towns Initiative (BTI), which aims to regenerate areas and make them more attractive and accessible to residents and visitors.

Other areas to benefit include Wellington, where a £1.1 million scheme was recently announced to make problems with puddles a thing of the past on streets around the town.

The project will see new high-quality paving put down along New Street and Market Square to link in with Bell Street, Duke Street and Crown Street, which have already been repaved.