Road campaigner crashes on new road

A man who led a 30-year campaign for a new bypass has become the first person to crash on it.

Jim Burley fought for the bypass in Pegswood, Northumberland, to reduce heavy traffic through the village.
Parish council chairman Jim, 70, and his wife Eunice, 69, were not seriously hurt when their Vauxhall van was in a head-on collision with another van.

The accident was on a section of the bypass which is open to traffic while work continues to complete the remaining stretch. Jim told the Sun: "I can certainly see the irony in being involved in the first accident on a bypass for which I have been campaigning for 20 to 30 years.

"Other parish councillors have been ringing to say they can't believe it was me involved in the accident when I have been making a song and dance about the bypass for years."