TRANSPORT Secretary Grant Shapps has announced multi-million pound improvement plans to the UK's road infrastructure to help come out of the cornavirus crisis.

Speaking at this evening's Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Mr Shapps announced that the death toll from the virus had risen by 428 to 33,421 in the past 24 hours.

He added that 2,219,281 Covid-19 tests had been carried out, with a record 126,064 of those yesterday.

Mr Shapps then said upgrades to the road and rail infrastructures had been carried out while the country has been at a "virtual standstill" due to the virus.

During that period, Network Rail completed 419 projects over Easter and 1,000 upgrades overr the May Bank Holiday. At the same time, Highways England has carried out maintenance projects.

The two organisations carried out work valued at more than £750m last month.

Mr Shapps said £2bn would be spent upgrading roads and railways to make sure Britain's infrasrtucture is in order and "to get our economy growing again".

The Government is also making money available to improve cycling and walking facilities; to make public transport safer for staff and passengers; and to ensure the system is not overwelmed by returning commuters.

A network of charging stations will be introduced for electric cars, including at motorway service stations.

Mr Shapps wants road building to be sped up as it is currently among the "costliets and slowest in Europe".