CHESHIRE has received almost £600,000 in a bid to help improve school access for disabled students.

The money is part of a £6.5 million grant for the North West and will go to Cheshire Education Authority.

This is the first part of a £220 million boost that will become available nationally over the next three years as part of the Schools Access Initiative.

Improvements planned include lifts, sound systems for the hard of hearing, and better signposting for the visually challenged.

The precise figure coming to Cheshire is £581,000 and that is expected to arrive during this year and next.