A VILLAGE on the A48 road plagued by speeding traffic claims the agencies that should be helping them are engaged in an exercise of passing the buck.

The charm and the bane of Blakeney is its two steep hills funnelling traffic into a narrow and twisty central section where shops, pubs and the village school are sited.

"In spite of the 40mph limit at the approaches and the short section of 30mph limit traffic is still rushing through the heart of the village," said Awre parish clerk Harry Clarke, who has written to both the Highways Agency and the County Council.

But in putting the case for the 30mph limits to be extended at both ends of the village he has found a reluctance of the two agencies to act ahead of the promised de-trunking of the main route.

"It appears neither of them want to face any extra costs," said Mr Clarke, adding that de-trunking was already overdue by several years and a promise that it would be accomplished by 2003 could not be relied upon.

Angry villager Mary Wybrow, who lives on the main road, agreed. "Everything these people say meet the criteria for a 30mph limit," she said.

They have an ally in County Councillor Gary Phipps who has written to his council's environment department backing the village's case.

"It would appear that the county council, the Highways Agency and WSP Civils (working on behalf of the Highways Agency) are passing the buck between themselves," he says in his letter.

"The parish council of Blakeney (Awre Parish Council) are becoming increasingly agitated at the lack of help they are getting from anyone."

•Awre parish councillors are opposed to de-trunking as they fear less money will be available for improvements and maintenance.