WE have said time and time again that the future of the valleys lies in its rich, industrial heritage and amazing beauty.

Which is why the £5million package of improvements announced today in areas along the Heads of the Valleys is a welcome step.

Towns and villages relying so heavily on coal and steel have suffered dreadfully over the years as those industries collapsed.

Small industrial estates and factories set up in the wake of such huge employment blows have not scratched the surface of revitalising those areas.

But the one thing the valleys does have on its side is some outstanding natural beauty.

Its scenery is some of the best in the country.

And it is that which needs to be capitalised on.

A tourist trail taking in this beautiful land combined with the heritage of its industrial past would be a magnet for tourism.

One only has to look at the success of Big Pit to see that people from far and wide are interested in this type of tourism.

But to achieve this the area would need more hotels and a better infrastructure.

With a little forward thinking from the Assembly we fail to see how it couldn't be achieved.

Tourism would bring money into the area, create many jobs and therefore provide a better quality of life for its residents.

So while today's announcement is very welcome, we hope it is just the start of something special which will see new life breathed into this outstanding area of natural beauty.