BUSINESS and civic leaders and officers will meet on Wednesday to step up a campaign to improve part of the busy A64 York to Scarborough road.

The chairman of Ryedale District Council, Councillor Lindsay Burr, has organised the meeting to lead action on improvements to the junctions at each end of the Malton bypass on the A64.

She said: "There are major problems caused by the inadequate junctions on the A64 at Malton and Norton.

"The limited movements that are available at both the York Road and Scarborough Road junctions mean that much traffic, in particular heavy commercial vehicles, travels through the centre of the towns when it could otherwise make use of the A64 as a bypass for Malton and Norton."

The meeting will take place at The Wentworth Arms, Old Malton.

Coun Burr said: "We want to draw attention to the issue and to seek early action to tackle the harm which is being caused to the towns."

Ryedale MP John Greenway is backing the campaign and has told Coun Burr he wants talks with Government ministers about the issue.