A parish councillor who led the campaign for a bypass to improve safety in his Northumberland village has become the victim of the new road's first accident - before it is even fully open to traffic.

Jim Burley has been at the forefront of the 30-year fight for a bypass for Pegswood to reduce heavy traffic through the village, cut pollution and make life safer for pedestrians.

But in an ironic twist, he was involved in the first collision on the new £9m road which is nearing completion but will not be open fully to traffic until next month.

Parish council chairman Jim, 70, and his wife Eunice, 69, were left shocked and bruised but not seriously hurt when their Vauxhall van was in a head-on collision with another van last Friday.

The accident, which happened when the other driver pulled out to overtake a vehicle in front of him, was on a section of the bypass which is open to traffic while work continues to complete the remaining stretch. Both vehicles were written off in the collision, which happened as Jim drove along the new road to Pegswood from Ashington.

Yesterday the retired coal industry manager said: "I can certainly see the irony in being involved in the first accident on a bypass for which I have been campaigning for 20 to 30 years.

"I have certainly not heard of any others on the road since part of it was opened.

"Other parish councillors have been ringing to say they can't believe it was me involved in the accident when I have been making a song and dance about the bypass for years.

"There is nothing wrong with the new road and the accident was just one of those things that happen. I know the other lad involved very well.

"I was doing about 35 to 40mph when this other van coming in the opposite direction pulled out to overtake a vehicle in front of it. My van was spun around and I finished up facing in the direction I had come from.

"I honestly thought for a couple of seconds we were going to be killed. I was shaken up and had concussion for a couple of days but my wife took the brunt of it in the passenger seat.

"We have both been very lucky and I hope that this is the first and very last accident on this new road, which will be a great thing for the village."