Osmaston Road in Allenton - from JG Bestwick to Somerfield - plus the car park on Stamford Street will be effected from 4 January.

The scheme, which should be completed by the end of March, will improve car parking, lighting, street furniture and access for disabled people.

Parking bays for motorcycles and cycle stands are also being installed.

Traders and shoppers are being warned that during the current phase, there will be times when some parts of the road and parking areas are unavailable.

But the council says work will be managed to minimise disruption wherever possible.

Later phases of the �2.1 million improvement scheme will cover other parts of the shopping area and should all be finished by 2007.

Work on the current phase started in August and seven CCTV cameras were switched on last month.