EXPERTS who branded the A66 the worst road in the UK have underlined the importance of the route being upgraded as quickly as possible.

The chairman of the A66 Completion Group, Councillor Michael Heseltine, said: "The view of the experts confirms what we have been saying for many years.

"The mix of dual carriageway and single carriageway sections on the road makes for a lethal combination."

He was speaking after a panel of BBC experts supported the long-held view of safety campaigners and The Northern Echo, who have campaigned for years to have the whole route made into a dual carriageway.

The experts reached their conclusion after examining the stretch of the trans-Pennine route between Scotch Corner and Penrith, Cumbria.

Their opinion has been backed by a Government-commissioned safety study which shows that, without full dualling, during the next 30 years there will be 20 people killed, 139 seriously injured and 581 slightly injured.

The number of fatal and serious injury accidents on single carriageway sections is 14 per cent above the national average for A-class roads in non-built up areas.

Coun Heseltine said: "The safety study has already shown that dualling is the best option for the A66.

"We look forward to a positive announcement as soon as possible, so work can start without any further delay."

Transport chiefs have announced a package of short-term measures, including speed cameras and junction improvements, in a bid to cut the death toll.

It is hoped that long-term plans will be unveiled in the near future.