Staff at the Express and Echo in Exeter are celebrating with their readers after a campaign to get a road resurfaced was vindicated.

Firstly, Prime Minister Tony Blair last week told the paper that its campaign to resurface the A30 had been a success.

Then this week a Government report into noise on the road has backed the Echo’s independent research that showed levels are too high.

The first part of the £75m concrete road was opened last August between Exeter and Whimple.

Although it was opened ahead of schedule, local villagers complained that noise from traffic using the road was unbearable and was making their lives a misery.

The paper joined the campaign to get the road resurfaced and commissioned studies into noise levels.

Results of the paper’s survey, carried out by specialists at Exeter University, showed the noise levels were higher than had been predicted at a public inquiry into the building of the A30.

The day after Transport Minister Lord MacDonald travelled along the road and proclaimed that no more concrete roads would be built, Tony Blair told the Echo: “This stretch of the A30 will be resurfaced with a lower noise surface.

“I can’t give you a firm promise on timing because it’s only fair that those roads with the worst noise problems are dealt with first. But I can promise this problem will be tackled.”

The paper emailed a list of questions to the Premier on different subjects and Mr Blair replied in detail to the questions that were put to him.

Express and Echo editor Steve Hall, who has been at the paper for three years said: “The whole thing has been pretty outrageous. We did not think we had a chance in getting the Government to rip up a £75m road.

“We commissioned a scientific survey of noise levels and laid out £500 to cover the costs of it.

“The success backs up our aim to be a champion of our community, we are delighted for the campaigners and residents.”

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