villagers are delighted to hear they could benefit from the £180bn Government scheme to give the UK a transport system worthy of the twenty-first century.

The first proposal for a Chilton bypass dates back to 1939 and the tiny village has long been beset by heavy transport flowing through the centre of it.

Now council officials and residents are pleased to hear the bypass could at last become a reality.

Chilton is bisected by the A167, which runs from Newton Aycliffe to Chester-le-Street. Approximately 126,000 vehicles a week pass through the village.

The proposal for a bypass is to be included in Durham County Council's five-year local transport plan, subject to approval by the executive committee.

The £7m plan would be the second biggest priority for the council, behind the Belmont interchange and park and ride scheme south of Durham.

The council is able to consider funding for the scheme through the local transport plan because the Highways Agency is planning to remove its trunk road status within a few years.

A Chilton by-pass on a trunk road would have to be funded directly by the Government.

A spokesman for Durham County Council stressed plans for the bypass had not yet received approval, but they were encouraged by the announcement.

John Litherland, director of planning for Sedgefield Borough Council, said the cash injection was good news for Chilton.

He said: "The borough council included the Chilton bypass in the borough local plan, reflecting the long-standing need to remove traffic from the centre of the village and improve access to industrial and commercial developments."

Margaret Taylor, of Chilton West Residents' Association, said: "We've been to several meetings about it and all we've ever got is that there's no money available, so believe me it'll be marvellous news if it happens."