Man arrested in protest over road

Mr Wyness is opposed to the £12.5m route

A man has been arrested after chaining himself to a digger in protest at the building of a £12.5m road.

Martin Wyness was held for aggravated trespass over his demonstration at Rotherwas Access Road in Herefordshire.

He was joined by around 20 protestors opposed to project which will link the A49 road from Hereford to Ross-on-Wye, to an industrial estate at Rotherwas.

Herefordshire Council is building it despite being refused funding by the government on three occasions.

Officials said they believed the scheme was not good value for money.

Funding is being provided by a combination of money from Advantage West Midlands and housing developers.

A council spokesman said it was needed to attract more businesses to the area, but protestors say it is an excuse to build new homes around the nearby villages of Bullinghope, Lower Bullingham and Dinedor.

A public inquiry was held in 2006 which looked at the council acquiring the land needed for the road, and construction work started last month.