Villagers have formed an action group to combat plans for a big increase in traffic through a "very dangerous" crossroads.

People living in Raskelf, near Easingwold, are angry that National Grid plans to send many of its vehicles through the village as they travel to and from the Lackenby-to-Shipton pylon line construction site.

The villagers compare negotiating the crossroads to playing Russian Roulette, and say a significant increase in traffic would be like "putting an additional bullet in the chamber".

At a public meeting, 50 per cent of the villagers turned out to quiz representatives of National Grid, North Yorkshire County Council and Balfour Beatty, the construction firm contracted to build the pylon line.

As a result, an action group was formed to take the villagers' campaign forward.

Harry Watson, a leading member of the group, said he did not want to comment further because a private meeting was taking place later this week with the authorities concerned.

But Les Quigley, a villager not connected with the action group but still a major campaigner in the fight, said that it was hoped the matter would go to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Mr Quigley said: "All we want to do is save lives."

Villagers have come up with three solutions:

* banning articulated and heavy goods vehicles, other than those requiring access

* changing the road priority with halt lines and signs being positioned to ensure that all traffic on the Helperby to Easingwold road has to stop and give way to village traffic

* slowing traffic to 30mph by installing traffic-calming measures on the approach roads to the village.

A spokesman for National Grid said: "We have offered to meet and discuss traffic routes and road safety.

Updated: 11:24 Monday, February 05, 2001