The Northern Echo has been praised by the Government for its long-running campaign for a road branded “the most dangerous in Britain” to be upgraded to full dual carriageway.

Transport Minister John Spellar singled out the paper when he announced that the Government was to upgrade the A66 from Scotch Corner to Penrith.

Work costing £141m will take place on the road from 2004, with three separate improvement schemes.

Mr Spellar said: “The Northern Echo has run a determined campaign over the years.

“Its tenacity is now being rewarded and I commend this newspaper for its energy in keeping the issues in the forefront of our minds.”

The Echo launched its Fix the A66 campaign in 1995 after there was a growing number of deaths on the road.

The notorious 50-mile stretch has claimed 70 lives in more than a decade and recent Government research suggests that during the next 30 years without full dualling it could claim another 20 with 139 people being seriously injured.

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