SEDGEBERROW villagers are looking forward to the opening of a £440,000 cycle way that will provide them with a safer route into Evesham.

Work is due to be completed this week on the cycle way, on the southbound carriageway of the A46 trunk road between the northern end of Sedgeberrow and A46/A44 Cheltenham Road roundabout near Evesham.

Apart from safety and environmental benefits, the route could also encourage more cyclists to visit Sedgeberrow, said resident Mike Parker, who had avoided taking a bike on to the highway due to traffic dangers.

He claimed inconvenience motorists' have complained over the duration of the highway works on the cycle way and comments that the route was unnecessary were outweighed by the potential benefits.

"I used to cycle into Evesham to get to work in the evenings," explained Mr Parker, aged 64, of Main Street, who is retired and was a teacher and social worker.

"I have been off the road for 10 years because it's dangerous as hell, especially with the heavy lorries."

He added: "Local people, if they planned their travel, could have gone other ways."

Mr Parker believed village traders and pubs could also get a boost from passing cyclists, saying: "It will be good for shopping at Hinton and other places, like Aston Somerville, which will also benefit from it.

He added: "Once it's up and running, you could have somebody who is having a break in Evesham who could go to the local Sedgeberrow pub. It's perfect, so it will help the area in terms of tourism."

Use of the cycle path would not be limited to cyclists, said Mr Parker. "People will be able to walk it, which is something they have never been able to do before," he explained, "You could actually walk into Evesham."

The cycle way construction, begun in April, was originally due to be completed within 10 weeks but took longer following a decision to carry out the work during off peak periods.