A political row has broken out, over what has been called "Britain's noisiest road."

Two MPs from opposite sides of the political spectrum have blamed each other's policies for the unpopular road.

Chris Grayling, Conservative MP for Epsom and Ben Bradshaw, Exeter's Labour MP, clashed over who bore responsibility for the A30.

The new concrete stretch of the road in East Devon, built three years ago, has led to complaints from nearby residents about the level of noise.

Mr Bradshaw has reacted angrily to the claims

They blame the surface of the dual carriageway and have campaigned for it to be re-done.

The war of words was sparked by a fresh call from Mr Grayling, a member of the Transport Select Committee, for the A30 to be resurfaced.

On a visit to Devon, Mr Grayling said the A30 was an example of how roads should not be built.

He met A30 campaigners, and said the road should be resurfaced as a matter of urgency.

But that provoked an sharp response from Mr Bradshaw who, as the local MP, attended the A30's opening ceremony.

He said: "We have to remember that the previous Conservative government built many of these roads on the cheap, up and down Britain.

"They all have to be resurfaced, and people are suffering as a result of Conservative misrule."

Angry residents

He said it would take a long time and a significant amount of public money to put things right.

The Highways Agency has carried out noise measurements at the A30 - one of 17 concrete sections of roads nationally where officials are taking soundings.

The agency said a report would be published early in 2003 on the results of the noise testing across the country, following which a decision would be taken on resurfacing.

Local people say that there is already enough evidence that the road is too noisy and are angry at the delay.