PINVIN parish councillors fear the increased amount of traffic from the Wyre Piddle bypass will blight the lives of villagers.

Chairman Steve Mitchell and councillor Bob Mustard spoke out on the eve of the opening of the new £6m road tomorrow, which coincides with the A4538 Worcester Road being re-designated as the A44 and is expected to bring increased traffic through the village.

They said the route change would mean that cars and lorries, which previously travelled to Pershore from up to six different routes, would be re-routed through the single junction at Pinvin.

"Residents of Terrace Road already suffer badly with heavy traffic just feet from their front doors," said Mr Mustard.

"Children walking to Pershore High School already have to run the gauntlet of traffic across the railway bridge. What will this be like after the new road designation has taken place?"

Mr Mitchell said that councillors had held discussions with Worcestershire County Council to try and change the way traffic was signposted to Pershore to make life easier for villagers, but nothing had resulted.

He added: "We are pleased for our neighbours from Wyre Piddle that they have got their bypass. But it looks as though the county council are not prepared to do anything to ease the impact on Pinvin.

"There is no doubt the new A44 route will blight the lives of villagers in Pinvin - and no one seems to be prepared to help us."

County councillor John Smith, cabinet assistant for environment and sustainability said: "I can't disagree with that. How much traffic will be re-routed through there, we don't know.

"I am sympathetic to what they are saying but I think there was very little the county council could do, to be honest.

"We're prepared to listen to any of the local people that are concerned about the effect the bypass may have on their area."