DRIVERS in Worcester have criticised council proposals to develop a 'live' mobile phone service aimed at beating congestion - calling it "potty".

As the Worcester News revealed on Tuesday, Worcestershire County Council is exploring a proposal to create an app offering real-time advice on tailbacks.

The idea is being pushed by its leader Councillor Simon Geraghty, who has called for County Hall to innovate more and consider new ideas around technology.

Motorists have told this newspaper they would rather see the suggestion ditched, saying there are already numerous ways of getting traffic data on mobiles and that they do not rely on it anyway.

Among the scores of drivers to contact this newspaper was Eileen Jones, 51, of Battenhall Road, Worcester.

"Something needs to be done about traffic in Worcester but this is not the answer," she said.

"I'd tell them not to waste a penny even thinking about this, I certainly wouldn't want to pull my car over while I am driving to check it."

Lorry driver Ted Hemmings, 27, who lives in a flat near Lowesmoor, said: "If you want traffic updates on your phone you can Google it now, but I don't know anyone who does this.

"Focus on improving the roads, not this."

It has also come under fire on our website, where Worcester News readers have called it "an awful idea".

A poster called Gorecki wrote: "Unless I'm missing something this is an awful idea, presumably coming out of the current public service obsession of 'innovation' above proper business analysis and planning.

"The council is not a software house and shouldn't consider entering a development project unless there's a really clear reason to do so.

"This one makes no sense as so many solutions already exist - Google Bing and Apple maps all already show you traffic hotspots and help you avoid them."

A fellow poster called Larry King wrote: "Why not work on the root cause of the problem, rather than trying to stick a plaster on it?"

Councillor Geraghty says his vision is for people to use a live mobile data service for all travel in the county, including public transport.

He has also refuted Labour Party concerns about it being illegal by saying he would not expect people to use it while driving, pointing to the explosion in hands-free equipment.

"We know congestion is an issue in the county, we've seen how important it is to people time and time again in surveys - and we think we can deal with it in a number of ways," he said.

It would also tie in with the physical infrastructure changes such as Worcestershire Parkway rail station at Norton and the current £41 million Southern Link Road dualling, as well as the £70 million bid to dual Carrington Bridge, which the Government is considering after county politicians and business leaders have spent months lobbying over it intensely.

The opposition Labour group has renewed its calls for completing Worcester's northern relief link road, but planning chiefs have already categorically ruled it out before 2030.