COUNCILLORS have thrown their weight behind a campaign to build a new bypass around Northallerton.

They are pressing North Yorkshire County Council to bring forward the scheme to relieve increasing congestion in the town.

Members of Hambleton District Council's planning committee have supported the idea of a bypass for the past ten years, when a feasibility study initially confirmed the need.

They claim the scheme should be eligible for part of a proposed £180m Government package to take traffic out of badly-congested communities.

Councillor Geoff Ellis, committee chairman, said: "We have been urging the county council to prioritise this scheme in its highways programme for many years.

"The congestion in the town centre is having an adverse effect on the quality of life of the town's residents and its attractiveness as a place to visit and shop in.

"On top of that, the increasingly frequent closure of level crossings is only serving to congest the town further and affect the day-to-day operation of businesses.

"We want to see the county council push to get a portion of this fund - aimed at rural communities being blighted by congestion and pollution - for Northallerton.