SEVEN months of road misery in Malmesbury has finally come to an end, after the main route to Swindon was reopened.

The B4042 was closed at Cowbridge in June, when work began on replacing the ageing bridge.

Motorists were forced to make a lengthy diversion, but residents in Lea and Milbourne were unhappy that their villages were being used as a rat run.

Wiltshire County Council contractors finally reopened one lane of the bridge on December 21, and traffic lights are in operation.

The project was originally due to completely finished by that date.

However, flooding problems during the summer delayed the scheme by a number of weeks.

A full reopening is now expected at the beginning of February.

Within minutes of the reopening at 10.03am, cars were travelling over the bridge.

Ray Sanderson, president of Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce, said he was delighted to see the bridge open.

"At least it is open partially now and people haven't got to go on a detour. Let's hope they now get on and finish it soon."

Mr Sanderson said there had been no drop in the numbers using the Cross Hayes car park since June, but traders had told him it had been a difficult time.

"I had a lot of complaints from traders saying their trade had gone down," he said.

In a statement Lea Parish Council said it hoped the number of cars and lorries passing through the village would now reduce. "We hope it will return to the usual quiet level."

- Traffic lights will remain at the top of Tetbury Hill, by the Dyson headquarters, until February 22.