CAMPAIGNERS calling for a by-pass around Blunsdon have handed over a petition to North Swindon MP Michael Wills.

Following a parish council survey of 642 households in the village this month, 97 per cent signed the form in favour of the project.

The £25m scheme has also won the support of Swindon Council transport officers and the Government office of the South West.

It is hoped the new bypass will greatly improve conditions for motorists using the A419 and residents living near the road and junction 15 of the M4 by diverting heavy lorries around the village.

Blunsdon St Andrew parish council chairman Colin Shiner said: "Although the petition does include more than 600 signatures, the important thing is the fact that such a high percentage of people who we approached were in favour of the bypass.''

The petition will be sent to transport secretary Stephen Byers.

The proposed bypass, which would take five to 10 years to complete, includes a flyover at the Turnpike Roundabout at the edge of the village.

In January last year, campaigners were given hope when they learned that the scheme had been included in a Government study called a New Deal for Trunk Roads in England, which identified congestion and safety problems on roads around the country.

On the back of this report, the Highways Agency invited tenders for a road study to examine the feasibility of a relief road for the village. MP Michael Wills said: "After working so hard for so long it is good to see the proposal finally reach this stage."