FURY has erupted in a North Yorkshire village after its planned £14m bypass was dropped by the Government despite a near 70-year wait for action.

Killinghall, north of Harrogate, was first promised a bypass in 1934, but the proposed route has now been refused by Transport Minister Stephen Byers on environmental grounds.

Earlier this year, the bypass had been given top priority by North Yorkshire County Council and work was expected to start in 2006.

Killinghall's county councillor, Heather Garnett, said: "This is a devastating blow for the village which has been waiting so long for its new road.

"The village is split in two by traffic and yet we are being told a new road would affect the environment."

"Daily, people have to dice with death with traffic just to get across the road. Traffic constantly roars through the heart of the community."

She has already spoken to the chairwoman of Killinghall Parish Council, Anne Holdsworth, who shared the community's shock and anger at the announcement.

But Coun Garnett said she would challenge the decision to axe the scheme and was sure there would be widespread support from the village.

Director of environmental services for North Yorkshire Mike Moore said it would help cut accident rates on the Ripon-Harrogate road.