A �57m plan to secure the future of Stonehenge has been given a major boost with an announcement that it will receive Heritage Lottery funding.

English Heritage and the National Trust have announced plans to transform the ancient landscape, uniting it with the stones and dramatically improving visitor access.

The plans also include radical suggestions for more environmentally-friendly handling of the World Heritage site and its flora and fauna.

The busy A344 road which runs past the stone circles will be diverted back onto the nearby A303 which will then be placed under a controversial "cut and cover" tunnel.

It is not an easy site and there is much work to do

Liz Forgan - Lottery chairwoman

Sir Neil Cossons, Chairman of English Heritage, praised the plans

"We have battled for more than 16 years to provide visitors to Stonehenge with the setting, access, understanding and enjoyment that is expected at such an internationally important pre-historic site.

"It has been a long and difficult struggle."

'Considered view'

Announcing the funding for the scheme, Heritage Lottery chairwoman, Liz Forgan said: "This support illustrates our commitment to a shared vision of Stonehenge.

"It's not an easy site and there is much work to do before a final scheme can be agreed.

"Our board was persuaded that support at this moment was right.

"What we are all after is a holistic and considered view of the site.

"The pleasure which vast numbers of people get from visiting the stones can be reconciled with the quality of the experience they get when they do so."

The announcement came on the day that Stonehenge was voted one of the top tourist attractions in Britain in a major public survey.