STROLLING along the prom and eating an ice cream are pleasures usually associated with south coast holiday resorts.

However, Southampton could soon get its very own seaside parade if plans to upgrade Weston Shore are given the green light by city chiefs.

New beach shelters, a games area and signs giving tourists information about the area's wildlife form part

of city council plans to revamp the area.

City bosses are expected to approve plans at a meeting next week to apply for £1.2m of national lottery funding to help pay for the project.

So far, £200,000 has been spent on improvements to the area including two new sections of cycle route from Weston Point to Weston Lane and Weston Lane to West Wood, following a government cash injection from the Single Regeneration Project.

New plans for the area include a £300,000 toilet block in the pitch and putt car park and a new off-road cycle track which would link Weston to Netley Abbey.

Other planned projects include building new beach shelters, a games area, and signs which would tell

visitors about the environmental importance of the site which provides a home for thousands of birds.

The plans are due to be discussed by members of the city council's

ruling Liberal Democrat group next Monday.

Cabinet member for communities and regeneration, Councillor Liz Mizon, said: "Weston is the only place in the city where you can walk along the beach.

"Not only are the improvements important to residents, they are important to the city as a whole."