STREET signs across Worcester are set to be restored to their former glories under a £20,000 makeover.

Your Worcester News can reveal how the city council is preparing to launch a new programme to repair or replace tatty signs for the first time in years.

From April, it intends to go across Worcester in phases examining worn-out signs which have shown signs of ageing.

Street signs deemed to be in the worst condition face being ripped out and replaced with new ones, while others could be repainted or cleaned.

The tactic follows years where damaged signs were either left as they were or taken out without being replaced.

Because streets often have up to four name plates, some can be removed with little impact.

Anecdotal evidence suggests many street signs in residential areas need sprucing up - and many in the core city centre retail areas.

The £20,000 spend has been earmarked by the city's Conservative leadership as part of the 2015/16 budget.

If the council was to just replace worn-out signs the fund would cover around 300 of them, based on council estimates of around £70 for each one.

Instead, it wants to giving some a lick of paint or clean and only replace a smaller number, meaning hundreds more can expect a makeover.

It says each plate will be looked at on a "case-by-case" basis from the spring.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "These are things that matter to people, we think it will be received well."

It has been welcomed by residents in Worcester, who say poor street signs often drag an area down.

Linda Burke, 47, of Bunns Road, St Peter's, said: "The signs in our street have changed colour in recent years, that's how poor they are.

"A lot of people won't notice but if you're new to an area it makes a street look bad.

"I hope the council goes away from the city centre and looks towards streets where people actually live."