Derby City Council has secured �2.1m from the Government to spend on lights, street furniture, access and car parking in Allenton.

The work will last until March 2005 but it will be suspended in December to avoid disrupting Christmas shopping.

Traders say the improvements will allow them to compete with large out of town shopping centres.

'Forgotten suburb'

John Bestwick, chairman of the Allenton Traders Association, felt the disruption would be worth it.

He said: "It's actually going to be quite painful for shoppers and traders while the work goes on but it is for the greater good.

"For a few years we have felt like the forgotten suburb and it's about time we got some investment."

He added: "There is always the chance that people will change their shopping habits and not return but hopefully this will be addressed by the council doing the car park work in phases."