COUNCILLORS are calling for action to relieve the heavy traffic flow through a village, which they say is putting pedestrians' lives in danger.

Members of Teesdale District Council want a bypass to be built around Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland, to divert thousands of trucks and cars that pass through the village each day.

Their call follows an announcement that work on a £4m bypass around the village of West Auckland is to begin in 2004 and will be completed by spring 2005.

The proposed 2.4km bypass will be a massive benefit for residents and motorists living in and around West Auckland, and will form a link from the A688 to the A68.

A consultation period will start in May, giving local people a chance to air their views on the road scheme.

The bypass project is part of Durham County Council's five-year plan for 2001-2006.

Now district council members are calling on the county council to include plans for a bypass around Toft Hill in its next five-year plan, which will run from 2007 to 2012.

Teesdale councillor Frank Wilson, who has already raised the issue with the county council's highways department, said the village had suffered from traffic problems for many years.

He said: "The traffic passing the primary school in Toft Hill is always heavy, and when the pupils are coming in and out of school it is very congested and dangerous.

"There have been about five small accidents in ten years, but the county council doesn't seem too concerned and does not feel there is a problem."

Councillor John Armstrong, a member of Teesdale District Council, said: "We have always strongly supported plans to create a West Auckland bypass, because it is very necessary. But it is important that the county council follows up the West Auckland bypass with improve- ments to Toft Hill."

Village resident Ray Stevenson, who was caretaker of the local primary school for more than 20 years, said: "The traffic is dangerous through Toft Hill. It is an accident waiting to happen, especially when the kids are coming out of school."

A spokesman for the county council said a by-pass for Toft Hill was under review, but there was no guarantee it would be included in the next five-year plan.