A street which saw traffic volumes more than halve after vehicles were banned during work hours has been named the Best Healthy Street of the Year.

Francis Road in Leyton picked up one of three prizes given to initiatives in Waltham Forest at last week’s Health Street Awards.

The ceremony in Guildhall on Friday, October 12, also named an image of Francis Road as the Best Healthy Streets Photo and the council’s Enjoy Waltham Forest programme was named Best Healthy Street Behaviour Change Initiative.

Francis Road, a previously congested high street, used to see more than 5,000 cars pass through every day.

A part-time closure for vehicles from 10am to 8pm along with improved paving and planting has boosted businesses in the area.

Tiff Howick and Lucie Beeston, co-owners of Venner, a gallery, gift and homeware store in Francis Road spoke at the conference.

Ms Beeston said: “We chose to open our business on Francis Road a year ago and have always been supportive of the plans, we love it.

“There’s a great buzz and community feeling, especially at weekends, and it’s great to see that the speeding cars have been replaced with people walking and cycling and kids playing.”

Ms Howick added: “Since the beds have been planted with trees and shrubs the road has become a real oasis.

“The pedestrianisation fits perfectly with us and the way we want to run our business, and we’re pleased to see our local community and economy thriving.”

The Enjoy Waltham Forest programme, which is funded by Transport for London’s Mini-Holland project, involved the building of more than 22km of segregated cycle lanes, improving 104 pedestrian crossings and introducing 43 road filters to vehicles.

In 2017, the Department for Transport figures showed that people in Waltham Forest were the most active of the outer London boroughs, with more than 40 per cent of adults walking at least five times a week.

Waltham Forest also became the best outer London borough for cycling five times a week, and the sixth highest across London – a rise from 11th the year before.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment, said: “It has been challenging and we have faced lots of opposition to our plans which ensure the safety of our most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists.

“We are now seeing the fruits of our labour as routes are completed and more and more people are taking to the streets on foot or bicycle.

“Our residents are now starting to enjoy the health benefits of these improvements as they leave the car at home and choose more sustainable transport options, helping to improve our air quality.”