Residents who have battled for nearly 20 years for a bypass around villages near Oswestry have been urged to have their say at a public meeting.

The Olympic Flame today started its 8,000-mile journey across Britain as the countdown to the London 2012 Games began.

Work to cut noise caused by lorries on a busy road was due to get under way today.

Traders in Oswestry have been warned to expect disruption when the Olympic Torch passes through the town on its way to London next month.

Campaigners from the newly-formed Llanymynech and Pant Bypass Action Group, which is calling for a new bypass, have set up a meeting next month with two MPs to discuss their traffic worries.

Letter: In Pant, near Oswestry, we are lucky, we have a busy rural village shop run by the Co-operative. They have just refurbished it and it now looks every inch the corporate retail outlet. They no doubt hope this will improve the shop’s takings.