MOTORISTS across Preston have been praised for their patience in helping with a traffic survey that could pave the way for Fishergate to be pedestrianised.

Drivers were quizzed on their travel habits from October 12 to 21 for Lancashire County Council to compile information to make a multi-million pound bid to fund major improvements to the city's transport network.

Surveyors handed out an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 questionnaires and about 9,000 roadside interviews were carried out.

Some motorists were held up on their way to and from work in order to be given surveys and to answer questions.

Officers at the council who commissioned consultancy firm Mott MacDonald to carry out the survey said they appreciated there had been delays and were grateful for drivers' patience.

The major improvements could involve pedestrianising Fishergate, a busy thoroughfare, introducing more bus lanes, and buying more electronic buses.

The bid is likely to be presented to the Department of Transport in July 2006, but council officers say that until plans for the multi-million pound Tithebarn regeneration scheme firm up, the exact nature of the improvements will not be known.

Basic results from the survey will be available in about a month, but more detailed information will not be ready for months.

Oliver Starkey, transportation planner at the authority, said: "The information will be used to make a bid to the Department of Transport to fund major transport improvements.

"It's pointless making bids for funding until we know what is going to happen with Tithebarn, but the improvements could include pedestrianising Fishergate, adding bus lanes, or more electronic buses."