HOPES of a major upgrade to North Yorkshire’s busiest road have risen after the Government said it would look “favourably” on any future funding bid for improvements – but it may be two years before any money is confirmed.

Roads Minister Stephen Hammond told MPs the safety record on the A64 between York and Scarborough meant he was “convinced” an application for funding would succeed when the next allocations of Whitehall cash for road improvements become available.

Speaking in the Commons, Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh said it was time to upgrade the “extremely congested and highly-dangerous” road and the A64 should receive funding through the Government’s “pinch-point” scheme, which is designed to target areas where bottlenecks are hampering economic growth.