CYCLIST Lance Allan decided to ignore the advice of new online cycle route planner after it suggested the best way from Tutshill to Aust was via Gloucester.

As far as the Transport Direct website is concerned, the Severn Bridge does not exist and the only way across the river is a 68-mile slog through the Forest of Dean and around the city of Gloucester.

Tidenham parish councillor Mr Allan decided to try out the system after reading about it in a newsletter for councillors.

He told the parish council: "I tested the cycle route from here to the other side of the Severn but it took me around Gloucester."

According to the site, the planner can be used to find routes anywhere in England or Cardiff.

When Mr Allan queried the unusual route he was told it was for planning routes in England.

"I told them we are in England, the Severn Bridge is wholly in England, half the Wye Bridge is in England and the destination was in England."

He said he had sent copies of the e-mails to the three MPs whose constituencies surround the bridge including Mark Harper in the Forest and David Davies for Monmouth.

He said: "It is quite a new system and I was told the bridge will be added in a few months.

"It might be that the route across the bridge goes through Wales but I tried it for two places in Shropshire where the route crosses into Wales and that worked fine."