A VAN driver died yesterday as one of the region's most notorious roads claimed its latest victim.

The accident happened on a single-carriageway stretch of the A66 trans-Pennine route, linking two lengths of dual carriageway between Greta Bridge and Cross Lanes, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The van was wrecked in a collision with two cars. The driver has not been named.

One car driver was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital, the other was not badly hurt.

The road was closed for five hours while police traffic experts investigated how the accident happened on a straight piece of road shortly after 7.30am. Traffic was diverted on to minor roads.

Two other people have been killed at junctions on the same stretch of the A66 in recent years - but local residents have been told it will probably be ten years before it is upgraded to a dual carriageway.

Proposals to upgrade two other parts of the A66, on the other side of Greta Bridge towards Scotch Corner, were welcomed by many at a public inquiry last month.

Experts said that if the £11m scheme to make the two stretches into dual carriageways went ahead, it would make the road far safer and spare more than 100 people from death or serious injury over the next 30 years.

The Northern Echo has been at the forefront of a campaign to "Fix the A66", to upgrade it to dual carriageway between Scotch Corner and Penrith in Cumbria. The route has claimed more than 70 lives in a decade.

Yesterday, retired gamekeeper Bernard Lee of The Cottage, Cross Lanes, said: "It is ridiculous that they mean to improve these two other stretches and leave this one as it is.

"I've been told it can't become a dual carriageway for at least ten years, but it should be done right now as it is far too dangerous.

"There's no doubt about it - it is a must."

Stella Jones, of Tutta Beck Farm, Greta Bridge, said: "I'm always terrified when I have to drive along this piece of road."

Jackie Marr of Magnola House, Greta Bridge, said: "The whole A66 should be a dual carriageway."

The public inquiry was told that if permission was granted for upgrading the other two stretches - a total of seven miles from Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank and Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner - work can start by spring 2005. A decision on the scheme is expected soon.