A VILLAGE is hoping for tidings of great joy in time for Christmas.

For decades, the long-suffering residents of Longnewton, near Stockton, have had increasing road safety concerns over lorries taking a short-cut to Teesside International Airport through the village.

Representatives of Stockton Borough Council are to meet with engineers from the Highways Agency tomorrow to press for progress on plans for a two-level interchange on the A66, opposite the community.

Residents greeted the unveiling of plans for the junction in the 1980s. They were thrilled when Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced in April that the long-awaited improvements would at last go ahead.

But, so far, nothing has happened, resulting in Tuesday's meeting being called.

Councillor Mike Cherrett, who represents Longnewton on Stockton council, is meeting representatives of the agency with Councillor Bob Cook, the cabinet member for regeneration, and council engineers.

Coun Cherrett understands there are hold-ups in securing compulsory purchase orders for land needed for the improvements.

"We want to be told the delay now is only a technical hitch and the job will soon be back on track," he said yesterday.