Relief could be in sight for a traffic-clogged village, following the announcement of plans to build a £4m bypass.

Residents of Marcham, near Abingdon, have welcomed plans to build the road to the south of the village.

Hundreds of survey forms are being delivered to local homes to canvass opinion on the plans, before a planning application is submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council later this year.

For more than 60 years residents have been talking, debating, approving and rejecting plans for a new road to relieve the heavy traffic that plagues the village.

Villagers were given their first chance to see the latest plans during a public exhibition at the Marcham Institute.

Jean Chadwick, from Packhorse Lane, said: "It is a nightmare living here. There is heavy, fast moving traffic and you take your life in your hands stepping out of the door. Masonry is cracking through vibration and there's pollution. My cat died of emphysema."

Lynn Busby, from Willows Farm, said: "We need a bypass but a cheaper option would be a weight restriction and ban on heavy lorries, many of which get stuck, causing chaos and some damage property."

Ian Fawcett, who was hit by a car as he stepped out of his home in the main street, said: "There is no pavement. Fortunately, I suffered only a minor injury but a more serious accident may be just around the corner.

"I support the bypass but a cheaper alternative could be traffic lights. Tailbacks of traffic would deter lorries which would have to find alternative routes."

Richard Jones, from nearby Frilford, supported the by-pass but worried about noise. He said: "The road will be above ground level and the prevailing wind will take noise into the village.

"The engineers say it will not be that significant but sound barriers are something which should be considered."

Landlord Dave Burrill, landlord of The Crown pub said he had mixed feelings about the benefits of a by-pass.

He said: "I pick up a lot of trade from passing traffic so a bypass could harm trade - although it would be safer and might attract customers. Lorries could be barred from the village.

"But a bypass would mean taking more land and I am opposed because it would damage the environment."