A big attendance is expected when a public inquiry is held next week into plans to upgrade one of Britain's most dangerous trunk roads.

The proposal is to make two stretches of single carriageway, totalling seven miles, on the A66 between Scotch Corner and Greta Bridge, County Durham, into dual carriageways.

The hearing is due to start at the Morritt Arms Hotel, Greta Bridge, on Tuesday.

Although the plan to improve the road has been widely welcomed, there have been objections to some of the details, including compulsory purchase orders for some of the land needed.

Just over half the road involved is the stretch from Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor. The smaller stretch is from Stephen Bank to Greta Bridge.

The Highways Agency, which is organising the public inquiry, said yesterday that it had no information as yet about how long the hearing might last.