Villagers have campaigned for a bypass for 30 years

The inquiry will look into plans for an �18.5m bypass at a notorious accident blackspot in the village of Temple Sowerby on the A66 in Cumbria.

Almost 13,000 vehicles pass through the village every day - 25% of them heavy goods vehicles.

The Highways Agency, which is behind the proposals for a 4.9km dual carriageway, said there had been 32 accidents in the village between 1995 and 2000.

The inquiry was ordered following objections to the plans on the A66 through Temple Sowerby near Penrith in Cumbria.

The majority of complaints are from people concerned about the impact it will have on their land.

Constant noise

Project managers claim the bypass will reduce traffic by almost 95%.

Henry Sawrey Cookson, who represents the village on Eden Council, said villagers' lives had been made a misery because of traffic levels.

"People have to put with constant noise day and night.

"There's pollution and the village is literally cut in half.

People can't let their children go out to play because they don't know if they'll be killed."

'Other measures'

Bu Stephen Joseph from the pressure group Transport 2000, said building new roads was not the answer to the village's problems.

He said: "Simply building another road won't help.

"Other measures need to be introduced to reduce traffic congestion and we will be opposing the bypass plan."

The hearing takes place at the Tufton Arms Hotel in Appleby and is expected to last two weeks.

A report will then go to government ministers for a final decision.