COMMUNITY leaders have praised the transformative effect that Dalton bypass has had for the tens of thousands of drivers who make use of the road every day.

It comes as the town celebrates a quarter of a century since the major piece of infrastructure was opened to the public following efforts from dedicated campaigners.

The multi-million pound construction has been credited with reducing an infamous bottleneck that hit drivers trying to pass through Dalton going up and down the A590.

As well as this, the project has been praised for reducing the number of accidents that used to occur on the road every year, saving the lives of Furness drivers.

Dalton councillors Wendy Maddox and Sam Ronson, the town's mayor, were among community figures to highlight the effect the road has had on improving safety for drivers.

Cllr Maddox, who was the town clerk when the bypass was opened, hailed the way it had eased traffic in Dalton.

She said: "The bypass is the greatest thing that could have been built for the town.

"It has done a lot to make it easier to travel in and around Dalton.

"People said fewer people would come to the town and visit the shops but that is not the case."

She said Dalton would very different without the bypass.

"The traffic now passing through Dalton now is bad enough.

"Without the bypass, the town would be constantly gridlocked.

"The 25 years have gone quick but now I cannot imagine what the road was like before.

"It has helped traffic so much and improved driving safety greatly."

Cllr Ronson, who has grown up with the was also keen to praise said: "I wasn't really aware of the figures and of course the by-pass has been as long I have.

"I think its wonderful that it is still saving lives but equally, it reduces the traffic through Dalton."

Even though he praised the way the bypass has improved safety but said there still more that could done to improve conditions for drivers.

Mr Ronson added: "Unfortunately I believe that 25 years on, a single lane in each direction isn't sufficient for modern levels of traffic.

"It isn't reasonable to expect that to change, which is disappointing but all I can say is that it does its job of preventing that huge volume of vehicles from coming through Dalton."

Ulverston Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe said: "It helped the people of Dalton greatly. And in Ulverston it has helped to make the drives of commuters in Furness safer and more convenient."