A NEW cycle and footpath, which will eventually link Caerleon to Newport city centre, opened yesterday.

The path, at Pillmawr Road to Home Farm, is the largest section of the route that will eventually provide vital connections between the university campuses in the city centre and Caerleon, Newport railway station and safe routes to several schools.

The project was joint funded by the Assembly, sustainable transport charity Sustrans and Newport Unlimited and further funding to complete the next section to Caerleon Comprehensive School has also been awarded.

The scheme is part of a UK-wide initiative from Sustrans, which is providing vital transport links for 79 local communities using money awarded by the Big Lottery Fund.

These links will allow people to make more local everyday journeys by foot or by bike.

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler, said: “It's a tribute to all those who have worked so hard on the design and the funding, and gives us a foretaste of what can be achieved as the route progresses into and beyond Caerleon.”