A £50,000 feasibility study looking into reopening the Leek to Stoke railway line has been commissioned as part of the Government's latest budget announcement.

It was named as one of many projects to receive a share of £1.7 billion as part of the first round of the Government's 'Levelling Up' fund.

In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak explained that the money was intended to "restore the pride people feel in the places they call home".

One such project is a £650,000 fund to pay for feasibility work on 13 proposals for new rail lines and stations reinstating passenger links.

One of these 13 proposals is the reopening of the Leek to Stoke line, which has received a £50,000 share of the money.

Moorlands MP Karen Bradley, who has backed plans to reopen the line, said she was "delighted" at the announcement.

She commented: "I have been lobbying for the reopening of the line for a long time and am delighted that we have been successful in our bid. It is great news that we will have £50,000 for the feasibility study - having a clean, green, reliable train service into the City would benefit so many people in the Moorlands who travel for work and leisure.

"It would also allow many more to visit our beautiful countryside and attractions without adding to the pressure on our roads and has the potential to take freight off the roads too, benefitting those who live along main roads.

"People in the Moorlands have told me how much they would like to see the trains return and I am delighted that we are moving forward on this important issue."

Leek Nub News reported previously how the reopening of the line was debated in Parliament by local MPs over the summer.

Back in March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also briefly acknowledged the plans, saying they were being considered by the Department for Transport.