Villagers were today meeting county council highways chiefs to put their case for a bypass to be built around their community.

Residents of Thormanby, near Easingwold, remain determined to keep a controversial coffin sign which stands by the side of the A19 as the road rises through the village, which residents have termed 'Death Hill'.

Hambleton District Council is demanding that the sign is removed because it is illegal under planning law, but this has not deterred villagers.

At today's meeting, villagers were asking county council highways chiefs to bid for Government money to fund a scheme to give Thormanby a bypass.

The village was to get its bypass in 1996 - survey work and drilling had even got under way on the project - but Government cuts meant the scheme was shelved.

Before the meeting began, Barry Dodd, chairman of Thormanby's parish meeting, said: "Our priority is to get the bypass scheme reinstated.

"What we cannot understand is why we are not at the top of the list to get one.

"We were top of the list in 1996, and traffic has got worse, not better - so why not now?"

Mr Dodd said he was optimistic that the council would accept the demand, adding: "We would like to think, given the history here, that we are in with a chance."

Updated: 08:18 Friday, May 04, 2001