THE Highways Agency claims that up to £10 million is being pumped into the Cumbrian economy because of the construction of the A66 Temple Sowerby bypass.

The money is being spent on a huge range of services being bought by the Highways Agency's contractor, Skanska. Highways Agency project manager Graham Dakin said: "Local people are playing their part in building the road by doing everything from dry stone walling which is a feature of the scheme to welcoming visitors to the site office. The bypass, which is due for completion next spring, is being built at a cost of £39.6 million and will remove more than 95 per cent of traffic from the village.